The down low on roosters...

[massiveme]

Can somone tell me about roosters? Especially about fertilizing eggs. We got a straight run of chicks and 1 turned out to be a roo. We were going to give him up, but hes grown on us. He seems fine (read not overly aggressive) at the moment, but we dont really want fertilized eggs. Whats the whole deal? Do we have to seperate him from the hens at a certain point?

We have 12 chickens: 6 laying hens (buff orphintons, road island reds and plymouth rocks), 2 teenage hens (ameraucanas), 3 pullets (silkies) and 1 roo (silkies).

Thanks in advance!

 

[keesmom]

As long as you collect eggs daily none will have a chance to even begin development. You will not notice a difference.

 

[tjo804]

yes you must separate or he will fertilize your whole flock all by himself. It is instinctual and cannot be stopped.

It is okay to eat fertilized eggs. We do all the time I collect the eggs everyday so they do not get a chance to develop.

 

[massiveme]

@keesmom what do you mean a difference? How quickly do we need to eat the eggs?

 

[keesmom]

@keesmom what do you mean a difference? How quickly do we need to eat the eggs?

As long as you collect them daily and refrigerate them, they are no different than store bought eggs.

Fertile eggs can only begin development if placed in an incubator or having a broody hen begin setting on them. Even then it would take 2-3 days of incubation to notice any change.

 

[donrae]

We eat fertile eggs every day. They have to be incubated at around 100 degrees for development to begin. If you collect the eggs every day and store them in the fridge, you'll literally not be able to tell the difference between fertile and non fertile eggs. The difference is quite subtle, folks who incubate wish it were easier to tell

 

[tjo804]

I have been known to leave my eggs on the counter (unwashed) for a couple of weeks before they get used and still nothing. You do not need to eat all the eggs everyday.

 

[massiveme]

thanks everyone! this might be a stupid question, but do all roosters crow? And for how long?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

All crow in the morning, when something is wrong, and depending on the rooster some crow just to make noise. I don't keep a cockerel that crows all day long. I do use my chosen breeder as a management device. If I hear him crow in the day I'll check things out and usually it's telling me they are out of food or water or a pullet got loose.

 

[massiveme]

Thanks @Egghead_Jr . Someone once told me they don't crow for life, that its only a certain period. Is this true?