tannerhill Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Hi, I have a cockerel who will be 16 weeks on friday, he has just started to crow. I was given 3 baby chicks from my Grandson for my birthday, I thought they were all hens, however.... they are all fine and healthy. I also have a further 2 hens who are just over 2 years old. I would like to know if I kept the cockerel, would it be fair to the hens, bearing in mind 2 of them are only 16 weeks old, also I am unsure if the eggs can still be eaten if they have been fertilised. What age does a cockerel fertilise the eggs. Your help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank You! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 he probably won't start treading them for a while yet - so it will be fine on your 16 week olds because they - and he - will be older before shenanigans start. Your 2-year olds might be quite pleased to have him when he's a bit older. And yes, you can eat fertilised eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 I suppose the big question is do you live somewhere where you can keep a cockerel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 I wouldn't eat the eggs, but that because I'm veggie and it's a bit of a grey area... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 off topic but.... never, kissinuk? Even the same day they're laid? Intriguing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 My boy is just over a year old and only started mounting his girls this spring as he was with two old girls who were not impressed by him. I wouldn't eat the eggs, but that because I'm veggie and it's a bit of a grey area... No critisism on your belief but just to give more info to those who may not understand. If they've not been incubated (eg. A hen sat on it all day long or put in an incubator) there's no life in there! An unincubated egg will never develop. So if you collect the eggs every day, there's nothing developing And they're perfectly fine to eat (from a health point of view!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 he probably won't start treading them for a while yet - so it will be fine on your 16 week olds because they - and he - will be older before shenanigans start. Your 2-year olds might be quite pleased to have him when he's a bit older. And yes, you can eat fertilised eggs! I've got an CLB cross that's nearly 18 weeks old that discovered what girls are for about 3 weeks ago but as yet to learn any manners in that deprtment even a kicking of his dad Boris hasn't brought him into line.yet his half brothers the same age and dad but differant mothers leave the girls alone.all 3 are know confined to quarters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 My boy is just over a year old and only started mounting his girls this spring as he was with two old girls who were not impressed by him. I wouldn't eat the eggs, but that because I'm veggie and it's a bit of a grey area... No critisism on your belief but just to give more info to those who may not understand. If they've not been incubated (eg. A hen sat on it all day long or put in an incubator) there's no life in there! An unincubated egg will never develop. So if you collect the eggs every day, there's nothing developing And they're perfectly fine to eat (from a health point of view!) At time of lay of course there's life in there, or at least the start of it, it takes more than heat to produce a chick! If not kept warm then strickly speaking the contents has died. Anyhow, it's not any deep hippy style reason why I wouldn't eat them, just the thought of it makes me feel a bit sick. Just one of those things really, I don't eat cochineal either because the thought of it makes me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannerhill Posted August 24, 2011 Author Share Posted August 24, 2011 Thanks for the replies, all comments and advice taken on board. He is not crowing early on a morning now as we are putting him in the eglu on his own at night with a blanket over, he comes out when we go into the hen house the next morning, he wasnt vey happy about going in the first night but last night he was better. Realy feel though that we will not be keeping a cockerel, so will be speaking with our vet over the next few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I'm sure this is not the case, and it is probably the noise you are concerned about, but I thought I'd point something out anyway for general thought. There is something not quite right about not eating fertilised / un-incubated eggs for veggie reasons but being prepared to have a healthy cockerel put down becasue he is causing the eggs to be fertilised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I'm sure this is not the case, and it is probably the noise you are concerned about, but I thought I'd point something out anyway for general thought. There is something not quite right about not eating fertilised / un-incubated eggs for veggie reasons but being prepared to have a healthy cockerel put down becasue he is causing the eggs to be fertilised. I presume you are veggie then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I have cockerels running with my hens...Bagging the Buff boy is wonderful..looking after his ladies and keeping them in line. We eat the eggs no problem. So if the neighbours don't complain and you like having him...well...why not?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 No I'm not a veggie and I do eat my chickens' fertilised eggs but I have recently had a debate with a, non veggie, friend who would not eat the eggs from my chickens because I have a cockerel. I can understand that a fertilised egg = life (all be it in a very early form) and so I would not give such an egg to a veggie, but to me that life could not be more valuable than the life of a fully grown and sentient creature (cockerel or hen). Just my logical way of looking at things. My friend would be quite happy to eat a cooked chicken but would not eat the fertilised eggs. It got to me rather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 A fertilized egg is just packaged cells, they need the right environment in order to develop (incubation or a womb) into life...without it, nothing happens. It's no different to a plant... they're made of cells...neither feel pain. Where do you draw the line? That's just how I see it. I would not give such an egg to a veggie Considering how many people have hatched supermarket eggs, the only way you could guarantee they weren't buying fertilized eggs would be to buy battery hen eggs....hardly humane for those who are against meat because of cruelty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
