[sandy]

 

I was asked today if a Cockerel has a “one night stand” with a Hen, is the Hen lightly to have fertile eggs the next day or for how long? I never thought about it before, I have a lot to learn.
 

[doganjo]

You and me both!   Over to you Rosemary!  How about a lesson on the birds and the bees as applied to Chickenland
Anne

[Rosemary]

If the cockerel is active and fertile, then the next eggs might be fertilised, but obvioulsy the more stands, the higher the liklihood. My understanding is that hens can store semen for up to 21 days in their bodies so can lay fertilised eggs for three weeks after the cockerel has departed, for whatever reason.

[sandy]

Well I did wounder, I usefd to teach reproduction in upper schools and had no idea about hens, so now I have some understanding of the birds, so what about the Bees?

[Rosemary]

Over to forum beekeepers! My pal keeps bees and explained the working of a hive - it's really fascinating.