The 8th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!!!!

[ShrekDawg]

Well, if you are just incubating for your own flock, or even selling a few chicks here and there, I wouldn't worry about it. If you start a serious breeding program, I'd probably remove that hen, but you are on a small enough scale I wouldn't worry about that. Just set all the eggs!

Thanks!! Yeah, I'd just be incubating to add to my own flock so probably not much of a concern

Now to find a rooster lol

I had an idea though, I'm not sure if I want to keep one permanently but I know "renting" one is a bad idea and wouldn't work and they don't even do that (I saw a CL ad with someone wanting to borrow a rooster lol) so I was thinking, maybe instead of raising it from a chick, I could find an adult and then just quarantine it then add it to the flock long enough for the hens to get used to him and breed then take him out? Since the eggs would be fertile for a weeks after I take him out so I could still hatch? But then I don't have to raise a chick or deal with crowing too long?

But that might be too complicated haha

And with quarantine anyway, I may as well just raise from a chick or maybe add some females too.

But it takes like 6 months to a year or so, maybe more, for him to settle down/learn manners and how to woo the girls right?

So maybe buying an adult would be better after all?

Or just get a no crow collar?

I don't know.

I could also just hope I get a broody and buy some hatching eggs but now I am curious what chicks from my chickens would look like haha

 

[melnjerm]

How Many eggs do you have left?

35, if I did my math right. I accidentally broke 1 a few days before that.

 

[CuzChickens]

Thanks!! Yeah, I'd just be incubating to add to my own flock so probably not much of a concern

Now to find a rooster lol

I had an idea though, I'm not sure if I want to keep one permanently but I know "renting" one is a bad idea and wouldn't work and they don't even do that (I saw a CL ad with someone wanting to borrow a rooster lol) so I was thinking, maybe instead of raising it from a chick, I could find an adult and then just quarantine it then add it to the flock long enough for the hens to get used to him and breed then take him out? Since the eggs would be fertile for a weeks after I take him out so I could still hatch? But then I don't have to raise a chick or deal with crowing too long?

But that might be too complicated haha

And with quarantine anyway, I may as well just raise from a chick or maybe add some females too.

But it takes like 6 months to a year or so, maybe more, for him to settle down/learn manners and how to woo the girls right?

So maybe buying an adult would be better after all?

Or just get a no crow collar?

I don't know.

I could also just hope I get a broody and buy some hatching eggs but now I am curious what chicks from my chickens would look like haha

I've got 15 roosters, come take your pick! Lol. I'd look around on Facebook farm pages, people are getting rid of roosters free alll the time, find one at least 8 months old with a nice tempermant, and just keep him. One rooster in a flock will be good for the girls, they'll start trusting him, and he'll warn them of dangers. If the crowing bothers you, buy a no-crow collar. I personally love the crows.

 

[Karen523]

Does anyone know at what age a rooster is no longer likely to be fertile? I think my oldest rooster isn't fertile any more. I can't remember how old he is. Maybe 4 or 5 years?

 

[Cynthia12]

Does anyone know at what age a rooster is no longer likely to be fertile? I think my oldest rooster isn't fertile any more. I can't remember how old he is. Maybe 4 or 5 years?

Good question..and my question is...how long will a hen take to be fertile once a rooster breeds her, and he is ready? Will it take only one day to get a fertile egg..two days?

I know there are a lot of folks with roosters and experience on here with these two questions.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I've got 15 roosters, come take your pick! Lol. I'd look around on Facebook farm pages, people are getting rid of roosters free alll the time, find one at least 8 months old with a nice tempermant, and just keep him. One rooster in a flock will be good for the girls, they'll start trusting him, and he'll warn them of dangers. If the crowing bothers you, buy a no-crow collar. I personally love the crows.

Wow that's a lot of roosters! Lol and thanks, I'll start looking for one and yeah, I guess it doesn't make sense to get one only to get rid of it lol I'm mostly concerned about the neighbors though and being woken up in the morning. Although my dog is probably louder but are roosters loud in the morning?

 

[Cynthia12]

I have 15 from each shipped package that are doing great! Started with 18 with one, have only tossed 3, and 25 from another. Tossed quite a few. :/ Still, 15 Nn's .. both breeders. I think I'm going to get me a Nn or two, or..

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Does anyone know at what age a rooster is no longer likely to be fertile? I think my oldest rooster isn't fertile any more. I can't remember how old he is. Maybe 4 or 5 years?

I have several roosters...but I don't have any that age yet.

On second though...I have two in my original package that were old when I got them. They must be 3.5 + years old. The white one has offspring I believe...the other guy I haven't bred this year yet.

Quote: Depending on the rooster, they can crow at any time of the day or night. It's 2am...and it's not uncommon to hear a few of mine crowing. I think having more than one causes more crowing because they have competition. I have some that don't crow much. It's a good thing our closest neighbor is 1.5 miles away.

 

[ronott1]

Does anyone know at what age a rooster is no longer likely to be fertile? I think my oldest rooster isn't fertile any more. I can't remember how old he is. Maybe 4 or 5 years?

fertility drops after two years old. They will still be fertile until they die though. Sadly, many die early because of getting too much calcium. Consider getting a new breeding rooster after three years.

 

[ronott1]

Good question..and my question is...how long will a hen take to be fertile once a rooster breeds her, and he is ready? Will it take only one day to get a fertile egg..two days?

I know there are a lot of folks with roosters and experience on here with these two questions.

Eggs take two days at best to go through the process. Eggs can be fertile after two days but the rooster usually does not mate with each hen every day. Also most roosters will take a week or two to start breeding. Sometimes the hens will beat him up at first. They go through a mating ritual which is very cute