[ellied]

I have just taken on a bantam Aracauna cockerel, along with a bantam female and 2 large fowl of the same breed.  They are living together and their new abode is next door to my existing 8 large fowl hens (4 BHWT standard brown hens, a Sussex Star, a Black Rock, a RIR and a Bluebelle)..

Q1 are the hybrids all infertile or might they breed if they are allowed to run together?
Q2 assuming the Aracaunas will breed to him, will the RIR too as a presumed purebred?
Q3 what should I expect in the way of girls going broody (none have before)?
Q4 can I still use/sell eggs even with a cockerel around - assuming he's with the lot by spring - or would you keep them separate, try and breed more Aracaunas and live off the original 8 girls in the way of eggs?

Just when I was thinking I knew enough to get by with chooks I go and take on a boy

[doganjo]

Q1 are the hybrids all infertile or might they breed if they are allowed to run together? Do you mean the rescue hens?  Mine have produced chicks in the past.
Q2 assuming the Aracaunas will breed to him, will the RIR too as a presumed purebred? He'll try to mate ANYTHING on two legs! They can produce anything too!
Q3 what should I expect in the way of girls going broody (none have before)? How long is a piece of string :-)
Q4 can I still use/sell eggs even with a cockerel around Yup, why not? Nothing wrong with them, except they have 'the potential' to be a viable chick.  The majority of my duck eggs are fertile.
Next question?  "How are my books doing"  Ahem - not a lot, been busy!

[little blue]

I have just taken on a bantam Aracauna cockerel, along with a bantam female and 2 large fowl of the same breed.  They are living together and their new abode is next door to my existing 8 large fowl hens (4 BHWT standard brown hens, a Sussex Star, a Black Rock, a RIR and a Bluebelle)..

Q1 are the hybrids all infertile or might they breed if they are allowed to run together?
Q2 assuming the Aracaunas will breed to him, will the RIR too as a presumed purebred?
Q3 what should I expect in the way of girls going broody (none have before)?
Q4 can I still use/sell eggs even with a cockerel around - assuming he's with the lot by spring - or would you keep them separate, try and breed more Aracaunas and live off the original 8 girls in the way of eggs?

Just when I was thinking I knew enough to get by with chooks I go and take on a boy

Q1)
No, its often hybrid cockerels that can have fertility problems.  We've had chicks from warren hybrids.  They'll come out lovely colours too!

Q2)
Not 100% sure what you mean?
He'll "have a go" at any of the girls that'll let him, you'll get RIR x Aracauna chicks uf they are hatched & fertile.

Q3)
having a fella doesn't mean they'll go broody - its more to do with their breed, age and instincts.

Q4)
You can USE the eggs
but not SELL them (farm gate sales)
though I'm sure lots do...

h.t.h

[doganjo]

LB, I didn't know you couldn't sell fertile eggs at the farm gate - where does it tell you please?   I have people clamouring for my duck eggs (don't have a cockerel so not a problem with the hens) and they all know I have a drake as they come and feed them.
I can see that the commercial people might not be allowed to sell fertile eggs(although I have no idea why As I said there's nothing wrong with them ) but does that apply to people with less than the magic number of 50 birds?

[little blue]

As far I understand (and I'll check!) you shouldn't sell on eggs that are potentially fertile, even if you aren't registered (ie have 49+)

We have a breeding cockerel & pens of egg-layers, so get round it fine.
And I'm sure loads of gate sales are from a mixed flock.

[SallyintNorth]

I also am under the impression you must not sell fertile eggs for eating.  But I haven't seen a Defra reg, haven't needed to look it up as we don't sell our eggs.

[Rosemary]

I also understand that you shouldn't sell fertile eggs, but I haven't ever seen the "rule" in writing. If you keep them cold and use them quickly, I can't see why it's a problem tbh.

Having said that, we run a cockerel with one of our flocks - I don't think he's very "active' any more though. Our eggs get used so quickly, it's not an issue.

As said already, your cockerel will mate with any hen, regardless of breed (although they sometimes seem to have favourites) and all could produce viable chicks.

We've had pure breeds and hybrids go broody. Silkies and Silkie crosses are supposed to be the most reliable broodies, but we've had Black Rocks go broody, even though they aren't supposed to.

[ellied]

Thanks - by hybrids I meant the Black Rock, Sussex Star and Bluebelle as much as the BHWT girls, I had heard that BR were infertile hybrids and wondered if all hybrids were or why BR are?

Re the rest, I do sell eggs and with another 3 girls laying in spring I don't want to give that up so will try and keep the new 4 separate and leave the 8 layers laying safely   Maybe I'll be lucky and get some purebred Ari babies but I can sell all the rest and use the green/blue ones myself if not

Thanks, that's my plan sorted then - will see if George will comply

[Rosemary]

I don't think any of the hybrids are infertile - they won't breed true though ie a BR hen and a BR cockerel (if you could get one) won't produce more Black Rocks.

Good luck with George 

[CameronS]

he's a very good looking bird! just had a wee nosey in the marketplace at your pictures!

and if it was up to me - i would let them all run together and see what happens, because they are green egglayers you will know what eggs will be true.

[Crofter]

I lifted this quote from the Broad Leys Publishing website. This makes it look as though it only applies to "Registered Poultry Keepers".

If hens are running with a cock the chances are that they will be laying fertile eggs. These should not be offered for sale for they cause offence to many consumers. Registered producers are required by the egg marketing regulations to produce eggs with, ‘a yolk that is free of foreign bodies’.

Dave

[doganjo]

Hmm, guess all my customers are thick skinned then    Or really really really love the eggs!

[little blue]

Foreign bodies?!
That's what an egg is designed for, to carry the embryo chick! how can that be classed as a foreign body?
Humans that think they rule the world  

[jaykay]

I got told that those little dark spots in the eggs, which i presumed were the embryo, are in fact blood spots and can occur in unfertilised eggs too and that you can't see the few cells that will become the embryo in an unincubated egg.

So if you can't see anything i guess you can sell them.

[hughesy]

I've only ever heard this thing about not selling eggs from hens running with a cockerel on this forum. Anybody want to flag up where in any actual legislation this is stated? Sounds like BS to me.