Tammy27 Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I collected my girls 2 weeks ago, they were surrounded by cockerals, could they have been fertilised if so how long will it last? thinking of hatching an egg?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 It's possible, but if your two hens are young, any eggs they hatch are very likely to produce cockerels. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I don't know your situation but think hard about hatching, it takes quite a bit of planning Eggs can be fertilized for a few weeks after they've been removed from the cockerel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 How old are your hens? Are any broody or do you have an incubator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 The trouble is that if your hens are POL or just started laying the eggs they produce will not be big enough to incubate, you need a good medium sized egg for that and could run in to problems if you try hatching undersized eggs If your hens are older you could give it a go, I just bought a beautiful hen from a disbanded breeding pen and was mighty tempted to put her eggs in the incubator but resisted it Do think carefully about it, you could end up with cockerels and then you have to think about what to do with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 There really is some truth in breeding from young birds. You definitely do get a high ratio of cockerels. I only tend to breed from mine once they are coming up to a year old - much better birds & I got a girl last time. Wonder how many of Marlene's chicks are girls? Don't just jump in because you want a cute chick - plan & look into hatching properly - you have to have arrangements for all the boys that could hatch. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
