AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM

Hello Chook people
Could anyone tell me how long will a hen remain fertile after removing the rooster I want to change roosters but dont know when to set the new guys eggs
Cheers Ray

interesting question, i would also love to know

If you leave it more than 7 days you will be safe. As a hen is laying an egg the next is already formed and the next is underway so leaving it more than 7 days will be safe.

There have been lengthy discussions on here about this topic and I am pretty certain the pretty-much-agreed-on answer is 10 days.

Eggs fertilised by Rooster A should stop by about day 10.

Fertile eggs from Rooster B should start about three days after Rooster B is introduced to the hen, BUT Rooster A's contribution is still present and viable.

I also recall someone on here (I think I know who, but I don't want to get shot down for getting it wrong) who knew that a certain boy had fathered a certain chicken WEEKS after he'd last been with a particular hen. It's scary for those trying so hard, but her record-keeping is good and I believe her.

In which case, the answer is...ummm...a while.

I gather that the hen could remain fertile from a mating for three weeks or more with an absolute maximum claimed of 50 days. Though that might be a dodgy claim ~ who knows. Of course if a new fertile rooster has been introduced and the old one excluded, then there will be a dilution effect. After about a week the majority of eggs will have been fertilised by the new rooster, but possibly a few still by the old one.

You should be right at 10days 1 week is not long enough

i remember someone saying they gave away a rooster, i think it was 5 weeks latter they had a hen go broody and hatch a few chicks.

so it can last a looooong time.

regards youri.

Hi all,


I have three rosters and i was thinking that I mite get rid of the one that is in the laying hads pen and replas him whith my three and
a half mounth old rouste sines the othere roester cepse triying to fit use.
but what will happen if i put my little roster in now will the lanying hands kill it sines they like to pick at athere chickens they don`t now.



regads

Ash

i would wait til to new rooster is 5 months old.

regards youri.

I have read some ware they can still be fertile for 10 days after a mate dies, maybe it depends of the breed of chook?