How old should a rooster be before he can fertilise eggs?

Question

is it ten months or more or do you need more than one rooster to force competition or virility

Answer 1

A rooster must be able to mount a hen and reach the sex organs on the inside. Both male and female chickens have one exterior opening called a cloaca. When a rooster mounts a hen, he will tuck his tail under her's in what is romantically called the "cloacal kiss" passing sperm to fertilize the egg (before the shell goes on!) Roosters do not have penises. No birds do.

Surprisingly, a small rooster will get the hang of it and can mate successfully with larger hens. But the only way to know about fertile eggs prior to hatch time, is to "candle" the eggs that have been incubating under the hen for at least 4 days (white or cream shelled eggs--brown eggs are much harder to tell). Take an intense-light flashlight with front not too wide--after it is totally dark--and slip each egg out from under the hen and hold it on the end of the flashlight. Eggs not fertile will be clear, except for pale orange yolk which may appear as a "shadow". (take a fresh egg, never incubated, and use it for a comparison, so you will know how any infertile egg will appear.) A fertile egg that is developing will have a dark blob--red at 4 days, with red "spiderlike legs", which are the veins developing around the egg, then after 5-6 days and after, just a dark blob-the longer the incubation period, the larger the embryo will show, of the developing chick, until it fills the egg except for an air space at one end shortly before hatch. You may see movement of the embryo--exciting, really. It is wise to date your eggs in pencil, so if another hen lays in the nest of the setting hen, you can remove the fresh egg--best to take a setting hen, eggs, nest and all out of the coop where layers are still using nests. And place her in a darker quiet area, with food and water available until ready for her chicks. Good luck--and if these eggs are not fertile, take them all out--eventually the little rascal will be successful and you will have fertile eggs.

Just a matter of hanging on & being able to reach the target!

Answer 2

One way to tell is when the cockerels starts making their **** a doodle do sounds. It means they are maturing. Mine were born in May and started in Nov. One rooster will do the job and if you have more then one and not enough hens they will fight for the privilege of breeding. We have found if we keep 3 roosters they are so busy worrying about the other ones there is less fighting. Believe me, it's not pretty to see roosters that have been fighting with each other. Chickens are carnivorous by nature and will go for blood. I know I have rambled on about useless info but we have raised chickens for years and have seen just about everything. A great Webb site is Thepoultrysite.com. There is a forum you can interact on.

Answer 3

6+ months old they will start mating and can fertilize eggs. Whoever said a rooster will take care of 50 hens was WRONG, I raise chickens and have all my life, one rooster per 1-10 hens is much more appropriate for most breeds. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

One to one and half years of age should do well. Male competition has no effect on virility in any species. Have a great year.

Answer 5

The eggs for ingesting come from layer hens that lays unfertilized eggs on a daily basis. it is as if the hens were programmed to position eggs on a daily basis. it is presented about through the layer feeds that the hens are fed.The eggs for hatching come from breeder hens and fertilized through coupling with a chicken.

Answer 6

Birds naturally want to breed all the time, regardless of the other males around. And they mature very fast. 10 months would be plenty old I think.

Answer 7

he will do a better job if he is a year or older and one roster will take very good care of up to50 hens

Answer 8

There is only one way to find out.