Fertile Eggs

[Jean]

How long would you wait to collect eggs from an unbred hen/hens that have just been introduced to a new rooster?

Thanks,

Jean

[Guest]

Howdy, Jean!

I wait three weeks when doing this or when rearranging residents of breeding pens.

Greg

[John]

I would only wait until he mounts her.  That may only take a few seconds, but shouldn\'t take longer than a day.  
So one day should be long enough when the females were not with a male for awhile.
I like to wait longer, as Greg suggests, if they were with a different male just prior to introducing the male you want as the sire.  Even then though the experts that I\'ve heard from say the cock that was with the hens most recently before an egg is laid is the likely sire.

[Jean]

Thanks John,

I have been waiting the three weeks on my other birds that have previously been with a rooster, but these girls were \"fresh\".

I will gather the eggs and put some in the incubator and see if I can get some white birdies..... woo hoo

Have I told you I bought a hatcher last week to go with my incubator.!  I\'m so excited!

Is everyone incubating now?

Jean

[jwoodhaven]

hey Jean we wait about 1 week. we get about 50% fertile eggs the first week but then after that they become more fertile.

Jerry

[bantamhill]

I do not have anything incubating currently. I put the breeding pens together last weekend. I will probably start collecting eggs this week.

Michael

[Guest]

This question has kept chewing on me, I am reading a couple books on poultry management thatI have on loan from my local university.

In the third edition (1951) of Poultry Husbandry, Morley Jull (Professor and Head of Poultry Department, University of Maryland, College Park, MD) on page 104 writes,
\"Good Fertility in 10 days. In flock and pen matings it is possible to secure a fertile egg approximately 24 hr. after copulation takes place, but a high percentage of fertile eggs is not likely to be obtained within 5 to 7 days after making up a mating. In order to secure maximum fertility before starting to save eggs, it is well to make up matings at least 10 days in advance.
Good Fertility for 10 Days after Matings Discontinued. While it is possible to secure a fertile egg for as long as 31 days after copulation has taken place, the per cent of fertile eggs tends to decline about the fifth day and declines sharply following the tenth day after the males have been removed from the breeding pens.\"