How long after rooster is gone will eggs be fertile?

[Me & Jack]

Just wondering what others' experiences have been with egg fertility after the rooster is no longer in the breeding pen. I have a young hen that's been away from the roo for twelve days. I keep plopping her eggs in my 'bator, and the eggs she's laid up until three days ago appear to be fertile. Can't tell about yesterday's or today's eggs yet, obviously.

I have always been under the impression that a hen can "store" the rooster's...um, essence...for three to five days. Anyone have any input on how long a hen might continue producing fertile eggs after the rooster has been removed from the picture?

Thanks!

 

[sourland]

2 weeks - high fertility

3 weeks - some fertility

4 weeks - occasional fertility

 

[chickenpickens]

I've seen posted here on BYC up to three weeks. When you remove specific birds for breeding from the other roosters you have to wait 3 weeks to be sure they're pure.

 

[tec27]

Definitely a week.

 

[wolftracks]

I've had some hatch at almost week 4. That roo was a spunky little guy.

 

[bluefeather2697]

i read that a hen can keep a rooster's sperm for up to 14 days.
after that. the eggs' fertility decreases.

 

[wolftracks]

Decreases, but they can lay a fertile egg much longer.

 

[Strader]

~Time hens continue to produce fertile eggs. If the rooster in a flock dies, or is removed, the hens will continue to produce fertile eggs for up to four weeks, depending on bird species. This is because there are "sperm nest" areas located in the oviduct of hens that collect and store semen for later fertilization of eggs. This is a natural survival mechanism for the production of a series of fertile hatching eggs even after the male is not available. The period of time that fertile eggs can be produced without additional matings can extend to several weeks. If a rooster is removed from the flock and replaced by another, it may require 3 weeks before it can be assured that all eggs will produce chicks sired by the new rooster. The proportion of chicks sired by the new rooster will increase during this period, but some chicks sired by the old rooster may hatch. Birds like turkeys and waterfowl have longer periods during which fertile eggs can be produced without matings.

 

[fishingman]

OK, So My hen cleaned up a 1/2 doz she sat on for all most full duration of hatching time during that time little by little she replace those with others meaning she ate the other's!
Now has 12 under her for past 2 weeks so #1 why would she get rid of first batch if fertile while with Roo& being removed after noticing of brooding & #2 your saying second batch very well are fertle too, Being removed away from Roo for 3weeks now?

 

[corochic]

Decreases, but they can lay a fertile egg much longer.

Hi How much longer do you think I have removed one hen from the rooster and as I sell my normal chicken eggs I cannot return her to the flock because I have a vegan customer who specifically said she would not use a fertile eggs. Now after 12 weeks she is laying everyday and we use her eggs and each time I check the tiny little circle in the yolk still shows up clearly. Any idea how long this will continue. I guess they wouldn't hatch now, but to the eye it still looks fertile. thank you.