Does a rooster need to service a hen every day?

[leaddog]

In order to lay fertilized eggs, does a hen need to be serviced every time she is preparing to lay an egg, or does one servicing fertilize multiple embryos at once and allow her to lay several fertilized eggs over some period of time?

I apologize if this is a naive question. I know a lot more about cows and pigs than chickens.

 

[Judy]

No. A hen can lay fertile eggs for up to three weeks after mating. Not sure whether only one mating would do that well, though.

 

[nhnanna]

from NH/ME

 

[Ridgerunner]

After mating, it takes 2 or 3 days for the egg to be fertile. You can be pretty sure the eggs will then be fertile for 2 weeks. It is possible for them to be fertile 3 weeks. After 4 weeks, you can be pretty sure the eggs are not fertile.

They are living animals so nothing is for absolutely certain, but this usually works.

 

[leaddog]

Thanks to everyone for the help!

 

[mrbstephens]

"serviced!" tee hee.

 

[leaddog]

UMMM yes, after a fashion

 

[Judy]

Guess it depends on how the hen feels about it....

Good replies here. I didn't know it took 2 or 3 days for the eggs to get fertile.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
This site goes through egg development in a chicken.

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/AS/AS-525-W.pdf

As far as the timeline, from the time an egg is fertilized inside the hen until it is laid is probably a little over 24 hours. Fertilization is one of the very first things that happens in the development of the egg. I know it can vary depending on the time of day of mating and egg laying, but bear with me.

Assume a hen is mated on a Monday. Monday's egg will obviously not be fertile. Tuesday's egg probably has already started developing and is past the fertilization stage by the time mating has occurred. Maybe. Probably. Odds are pretty high it will not be fertile. Wednesday's egg probably will be fertile. If the mating takes place late Monday, the hen lays at daybreak, and her internal cycle is a little long it is possible that Thursday's egg will be the first one fertile.

Probably more than you wanted to know.

 

[crazyhen]

One matting can last a hen a week or more after she is fertile. It does not need to be every day. Gloria Jean