The best age when hens are fertile

[Conway]

I have three Sussex with a Rooster, the hens have just started laying for the first time 2 month ago. If the Rooster is doing his job when would be the best time to take some eggs to run in an incubator.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They should be good any time if the rooster is doing his job.

 

[Cntry1958]

I would make sure that rooster is doing its job before you go and incubate any eggs. When you crack open one of the hens eggs can you see that its been fertilized? I think I would give my hens a few more months. It takes them a month just to get used to laying a egg and their body to adjust to it. This is when there eggs get larger as well. I think personally I wouldn't try till 5 or 6 months old.

 

[Conway]

I would make sure that rooster is doing its job before you go and incubate any eggs. When you crack open one of the hens eggs can you see that its been fertilized? I think I would give my hens a few more months. It takes them a month just to get used to laying a egg and their body to adjust to it. This is when there eggs get larger as well. I think personally I wouldn't try till 5 or 6 months old.

Thank you will look at an egg in a few months time

 

[Pork Pie]

These links may be useful when checking for fertility

http://cdn.backyardchickens.com/7/76/500x1000px-LL-767d5e96_EggFertility.jpeg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, fertility is not the primary issue here. Unless the roo is a dud, those eggs are gonna be fertile. The issue of importance is that the eggs be large enough to support good development of a chick. While any fertile pullet egg can most likely be hatched, the chick that emerges is going to be much smaller than her sibling hatched from an egg that is much larger. Such a pullet may eventually outgrow the initial slow start, and attain full size hen status. (Similar to the healthy adult who spent his first 2 months in NICU b/c he was a preemie.) IMO, it would be better to wait till those eggs are larger, unless you are in a time crunch to preserve some genetic material for flock continuation.

 

[Conway]

IMO, fertility is not the primary issue here. Unless the roo is a dud, those eggs are gonna be fertile. The issue of importance is that the eggs be large enough to support good development of a chick. While any fertile pullet egg can most likely be hatched, the chick that emerges is going to be much smaller than her sibling hatched from an egg that is much larger. Such a pullet may eventually outgrow the initial slow start, and attain full size hen status. (Similar to the healthy adult who spent his first 2 months in NICU b/c he was a preemie.) IMO, it would be better to wait till those eggs are larger, unless you are in a time crunch to preserve some genetic material for flock continuation.

Thank you for the reply--very help full,