CherpNPeep
Songster
aHhha
Stupid question? Can females still mate when laying?
- Thread starter CherpNPeep
- Start date
Could you explain a bit more?
Do you mean when they are in lay (as in they have laid their first egg)?
Females can mate before they begin to lay, and if their eggs are to be fertilized, they will also mate after they have laid their first egg.
Do you mean when they are in lay (as in they have laid their first egg)?
Females can mate before they begin to lay, and if their eggs are to be fertilized, they will also mate after they have laid their first egg.
yes, fertilized eggs taste just the same and if you collect daily you’ll never notice.
Yes, it's a continuous cycle while they are laying assuming there is a rooster, or cockerel.
Often, the pair mate straight after the hen has laid the last egg. This is the way the pair try to ensure that their genes get passed on.
However, when a hen sits on a clutch with a view to hatching her eggs she will usually not let her rooster mate with her.
Most roosters know not to mate with a sitting hen.
A little elaboration as to why.
Once a hen decides to sit on her clutch, usually within 2 to 3 days her egg laying cycle switches off. She won't lay eggs while sitting. Sometimes a hens laying cycle gets delayed in switching off and she may lay one or two eggs and sit.
The roosters seem to know that it is pointless mating a hen that isn't laying. Young cockerels can be an exception to this but the majority of hens will ruffle up and even fight a rooster off.
Often, the pair mate straight after the hen has laid the last egg. This is the way the pair try to ensure that their genes get passed on.
However, when a hen sits on a clutch with a view to hatching her eggs she will usually not let her rooster mate with her.
Most roosters know not to mate with a sitting hen.
A little elaboration as to why.
Once a hen decides to sit on her clutch, usually within 2 to 3 days her egg laying cycle switches off. She won't lay eggs while sitting. Sometimes a hens laying cycle gets delayed in switching off and she may lay one or two eggs and sit.
The roosters seem to know that it is pointless mating a hen that isn't laying. Young cockerels can be an exception to this but the majority of hens will ruffle up and even fight a rooster off.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #6
CherpNPeep
Songster
She laid two eggs in two days and mated the next morning? I collected her eggs. Should I be worried?
Worried about what?
You’ll be fine. I eat mine all the time and my roosters are in with my flock.
No reason to worry!
You can eat fertilized eggs, they don't taste any different than non-fertilized eggs.
Good advice/replies above. Nothing to worry about 
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