Fertilty

[Marty]

This is a very basic question but I can't find the answer in any of my books. I keep Pekins in various colours plus assorted other breeds. During the winter they all run out together but now they have started laying I have separated them into colours/breeds and penned them up. How long will it take before I can be sure the eggs laid will have been fertilised by the right cockerels the hens are now living with?

 

[dinosaw]

The general consensus seems to be that the eggs are fertilised for 2-3 weeks after an initial mating and that you should leave a minimum of 3 weeks before being sure that it is the new cockerel who is the father.

 

[Chuck]

Three weeks is good. For extra safety go for four.

 

[Marty]

Thanks, must mark calendar. Can I assume the same applies to turkeys?

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Marty. Before you start crack an egg at least 5 days old and check the 'blastoderm'. It is the start of the embryo cell division forming on the surface of the yolk. Darkbrowneggs web site has some great photos. That's how we check the fertility of our cockerels before we put eggs in the incubator -saves a lot of wasted time.

 

[Marty]

Thanks but I was more concerned with checking that the eggs were fertilised by the correct cockerel ie the right breed, or right colour rather than the eggs actually being fertile. I dont want to rear any more crossbreeds.

 

[chrismahon]

Guess that's down to your management then Marty. Hens can store the 'wrong' sperm for up to 17 days. So to be sure you don't get crossbreeds they need to be isolated with the right cock for at least three weeks, perhaps a few days more.