The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: jacob and Georgina on September 12, 2010, 12:44:07 pm

Title: Help for egg fertilisation
Post by: jacob and Georgina on September 12, 2010, 12:44:07 pm
OK this question may be stupid and is very difficult to explain but here i go. OK when you mate a hen with a cockerel he obviously fertilises the eggs. But my question is a hen lays approximately one egg a day so if she has mated, that egg will be fertilised. But when she lays the next day will that egg also be fertilised from mating with the cockerel from the day before.
If the egg on the second day is also fertilised how many fertilised eggs can the hen lay after she has only mated with the cockerel once.
If anyone can answer my question it would be much appreciated i am not breeding my hens until we have more land but i wanted to ask this question just out of interest.

Many thanks  :chook:
Title: Re: Help for egg fertilisation
Post by: CameronS on September 12, 2010, 12:58:33 pm
once bred by the cockerel the hen's eggs will stay fertile for approx 6weeks
Title: Re: Help for egg fertilisation
Post by: jacob and Georgina on September 12, 2010, 01:00:24 pm
Thanks i never knew that i thought they fertilised each egg rather than by weeks thats really interesting and handy to know cheers  :chook:
Title: Re: Help for egg fertilisation
Post by: bamford6 on September 12, 2010, 02:19:13 pm
the cock bird will be fertile for 1 month iff mated with hen thats why its good to switch cock birds
Title: Re: Help for egg fertilisation
Post by: Daisys Mum on September 12, 2010, 04:43:45 pm

Well you learn something new every day, thanks for asking the question Jacob.