Fertility question

[Colleen Kinzie]

How long do hens need to be kept away from a rooster to make sure she has none of his fertilized eggs
And how soon when putting hens with a new rooster will the eggs be fertilized by him
Thanks

[Jenny d]

I have heard it is one week at least, two weeks to be safe when you are changing your rooster.
As far as how soon putting hens with a rooster gets you fertilized eggs, I think it depends on the hen and rooster.
Mine has been with the ladies for two weeks, but he's afraid of the hens and when he does get up the courage to mount them he faces the wrong way...

[Jaye]

Anecdotal data, so take with a grain of salt, but I've heard from a number of poultry keepers that they've had cases where their hen's eggs have remained fertile for up to a month after they've been exposed to a rooster and said rooster had been removed. I guess just keep checking for bull eyes.

[Killerbunny]

Yes, up to a month.

[Kbr42]

At least a month! @Jenny d jsorry for your troubles....lol

[Shnookie]

Some of my hens have had fertile eggs up to a month after I removed the rooster.