Swapping roos-fertility Q **Update** Day 18!

[Gypsy07]

Can anyone answer me this? When hens are moved from one rooster to another, approximately how long will they be laying eggs that were fertilised by the first rooster? Assuming both roosters are equally amorous and equally fertile, that is.

I know hens can lay fertile eggs for quite a while after they've been taken away from a rooster, but what about when you swap them straight from one roo to another. Would there be one specific time when they would stop laying eggs fertilised by the first one and start laying eggs fertilised by the second one? Or would there be a crossover period when they would be laying eggs that could have been fertilised by either roo?

I'm debating incubating the first eggs laid (about five days ago) by some White Leghorns I was recently given. They came from a breeding place so I have the possibility of getting some more leghorn chicks. I also have the possibility that my own randy roo has been busy with them already, and I might end up with some strange looking half Cuckoo Marans babies...

 

[Cattitude]

I've read that it can be anywhere from 5 days to 3 weeks. I'm not certain though; I'll wait for the eggsperts to chime in.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I waited for about a month to make sure. They stay fertilized for 3-4 weeks.

 

[hinkjc]

I wait 3-4 weeks to be sure.

 

[Gypsy07]

Thanks for the answers everyone. I figured if it can take as long as 3-4 weeks then I've got a pretty good chance that the eggs I was thinking of incubating WEREN'T fertilised by my own roo. Which is what I was hoping for. So I went ahead and popped them in my bator.

I'm on day 6 now, with six white leghorn eggs and one very dark and speckly cuckoo marans egg. Here's hoping I'll get a few pure bred chicks and not some strange looking mutts!

I really like the Leghorn hens so far. They're pretty small but they've been knocking out some absolutely massive eggs. They're laying like mad which is quite funny cause the reason they were given to me for free was because they're a few years old and supposedly not laying as well as they used to. Makes me wonder what they used to lay like. Two a day maybe? LOL!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I wait 3-4 weeks after switching roosters.

 

[Gypsy07]

Well that's me on day 18 now and just locked down the bator with three White Leghorn eggs looking good.

The other four eggs didn't develop at all so I removed them on day 10.

Here's hoping for a successful hatch. Fingers crossed!!!