How long after mating does a hen stay fertile? I seperated my rooster last week because he was pulling too many neck feathers from the girls and just plain too active with them. I was planning on letting him out with the 24 hens every other weekend, but was not sure how often he needed to be with the hens to keep them fertile. Just not sure how long they stay fertile after mating, a number of days, number of eggs, etc. Thanks Craig

-- craig swasnon (craig@rswcorp.com), April 11, 2001

Answers

I read in a book (and had to dig for it, because info on such seems scarce) that one mating can keep hen's eggs fertile for 30 days.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

This is a good source of info. on incubating eggs.http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/poultry/g08353.htm Says that chicken eggs can stay fertile up to 3 weeks. Wow, says that turkeys can stay fertile up to 200 days.

-- Kent in WA (kent@premier1.net), April 11, 2001.

Hello Craig! I recall reading an article about the entire process in an old countryside mag. I think the number of days they remain fertile was "UP TO" 40? Maybe depends on the rooster and all. But if you go with the 30 days you should be O.K. Sounds like your rooster is active enough to get the job done though. Ours is the same, he even tore a comb on a female just a tad. Enough to worry me, but she is fine now. Good luck with the hatching. ~Brenda~

-- Brenda (brenclark@alltel.net), April 11, 2001.

Remember, that's "up to". I seem to remember that fertility drops off markedly after about a week. Can't swear I'm right about the number, but it's close, and I am right about the fertility drop-off. I do know you need to allow a week spacing to be reasonably certain you're getting the benefit of a new rooster rather than a previous one, when you're breeding them.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), April 11, 2001.

Gail Damerow's book on chickens, available from Murrey McMurry hatchery, and other places, which I consider the ultimate source on chickens, says 7 days. Some may be fertile longer, but I would say once a week to be on the safe side, ought to be plenty, and no more often if you want the girls to heal

-- blue eggs (blueeggs@united.net), April 18, 2001.