Chic-n-Eggs

Agri Minds Project

Interesting facts of chicken egg fertility that you may not know.

🪶 It is possible to have a rooster and a hen that are active but a hen can still lay eggs that are not fertile:

I know you may be wondering how, and here is the explanation.
Unlike other birds where you find partners, in chickens there is no courtship or romance. A rooster just forces himself on the hen. So what happens is when a rooster mates a hen, his injected semen is stored in numerous s***m storage tubules (SSTs) located in the area where the hen’s uterus joins the va**na. But this only happens provided the hen likes the rooster. If she doesn’t, she can sq**rt out the semen to avoid hatching his offspring. Therefore a hen may still proceed to lay eggs that are not fertile despite even mating with a rooster every day.

🪶 Even if the hen approves the rooster, some eggs may still not be fertile:

Since the s***m is released shortly after an egg is laid, and each egg takes approximately 25 hours to develop, an egg produced on the day of mating will not be fertile.

An egg laid the next day may or may not be fertile, depending on the timing. An egg laid on the third day definitely should be fertile.

So as you can see your hen can still have the first two or three eggs that are not fertile despite the hen and a rooster having mated.

🪶 You don't need a rooster everyday for the hen to continue laying fertile eggs:

The amount of time during which the hen will continue to lay fertile eggs depends on how much s***m fills the SSTs, which are capable of storing semen from multiple matings and multiple roosters.

Highly productive hens generally remain fertile longer than hens that lay at a slower rate. The average duration of fertility from a single mating is 10 to 14 days.
So it is possible that once your hen has mated with a rooster you can even take the rooster away and you can still have fertile eggs for the next 14 days.

🪶 For first time layers if a rooster has mated with a hen, all her eggs are not always fertile:

Generally speaking, a hen who has mated will be fertile between 7 and 10 days after. It takes that long for the s***m to reach the oviduct where eggs are made. So it is possible that after mating, your hen can still continue to lay eggs that are not fertile for the next 10 days. This is why it is encouraged that for hens that are laying for the first time it is better to eat the eggs for the first two or three weeks instead of attempting to hatch them.

🪶 Not all roosters have fertile s***m:

This is a sad one. Just like in humans, even in chickens we also have roosters that are infertile.
Why? Who knows. It's maybe just something in his genes not working as it should. Again, very like the human condition. There's not always a rhyme or reason.

NB- This article has been compiled to help people understand why at time they may hear those who provide hatchery services referring to their eggs not having been fertile. We know some have been wondering why the eggs are said not to be fertile yet they have the recommended number of hens and roosters that are also active for that matter.

While the article has been compiled from various sources that we believe to be credible, it is only for general information. For specifics relating to one's flock we still recommend that farmers use the services of professionals.

[email protected]
Contact: +260972278272 for adverts.

Poultry shows and public sales have been suspended until further notice due to the threat of High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI). This includes all exhibitions, farm tours, shows, sales, flea markets, auction markets, swaps and meets pertaining to poultry and feathered fowl in North Carolina. “This suspension is due to the continued spread of HPAI that has affected commercial and backyard flocks in numerous states, including North Carolina,” said State Veterinarian Mike Martin. “We do not make this decision lightly. HPAI is a serious threat to our poultry industry and this is a precaution to help limit the introduction of the virus to backyard and commercial flocks.” Learn more in the release below!
More info here: https://bit.ly/3LIdbRn

Trio of Turkeys, 2nd breeding year. NPIP and AI clean. Snow Hill area PM to discuss.

6 Blue Ameraucanas and 5 Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Chicks. Available now for discussion. Straight Run, NPIP and AI clean. PM for more details Snow Hill Area.

For those of you looking to add some chicks to your flock, why not support our youth at the same time?

Black Sexlink chicks for sale! Contact Mr. Riggs (agriculture teacher) to purchase. Message this page or email [email protected] and please include a contact phone number.

All chicks were incubated and hatched by our agriculture students and FFA members! Proceeds go back to FCHS FFA Chapter and Ag Ed program to support future hands-on learning projects.

UPDATE: all pullets are spoken-for at this time! Willing to cut a good deal for anyone wanting to buy larger numbers of males!
Females: $5
Males: $2 (price negotiable if you purchase large #'s)

Pick-up can be arranged at Farmville Central HS or near Farmville, NC. Please do not show up at the school without contacting Mr. Riggs- you will be turned away due to security and Covid-19 prevention protocols.

Chicks! Ready this weekend! Ameraucanas, 2 gen Olive Eggers and Blue Laced Red Wyandottes.

2 Olive Egger hens, 1 year old and laying good! NPIP and AI clean

4 Cream Leg Bar hens all are laying. NPIP and AI clean.

Trio of Ameraucanas. 1 rooster and 2 hens. Hens are laying. NPIP and AI clean

Trio of Black Copper Marans. 1 rooster and 2 hens. Hens are laying.

For a limited time we are offering a rainbow flock. 1 Cream Leg Bar, 1 Ameraucana, 1 Black Copper Marans, and 1 Olive Egger. 4 laying hens together. NPIP and AI

Bantam Cochins (potential for frizzles): Hatched March 23! These are from my porcelain project pen (all colors are possible). NPIP and AI Clean. PM to discuss.

Seramas: Hatched March 23! NPIP and AI clean. PM to discuss.

NPIP and AI clean, Snow Hill Area. These boys did not make it into my breeding or fun pens but they are beautiful well behaved boys. Info about each one is in the comments of the pictures.

Just sharing some pictures of the color we are getting this year...

Serama pair, cockerel and pullet. Not laying yet. NPIP and AI clean located in Snow Hill. PM for details

**Teddy and Blue are spoken for, pending pick up.
Child tested Mother approved! Free to qualified homes. I have young fully feathered bantam Cochin cockerels that have been hand raised and handled daily. These boys are sweet! *note: roosters need to be handled daily and all roosters go through an adolescent stage at 5-7 months.

3 Olive Egger Pullets, 1 week old, NPIP and AI. Located in Snow Hill

Cockerels, ready to be fed out. One low price for all. PM for details.

Serama Roosters looking for a new coop. (Free) NPIP and AI clean, located in Snow Hill PM for pickup

4 week old Serama chicks (straight run), NPIP and AI clean. PM for details

3 1/2 week old Serama trio (straight run), NPIP and AI clean. PM for details

Week old straight run Bantam Cochins (frizzles are possible) located in Snow Hill, NPIP and AI clean, PM me for details

**Pending pick up

Please support our local 4-H youth. These turkey poults were hatched by a 4-Her. All the money that she makes goes right back into her poultry project. She has 4 available. Due to the welfare of the animal we can not let singles go alone, so please be prepared to take 2 or 4. PM me for details.

**Pending pick up.
Serama Hen with your choice of Rooster. Additional Roosters also available. They are 5 weeks old. Located in Snow Hill. PM for details. NPIP and AI

** PENDING PICK UP
5 week bantam Cochin pair. The frizzle is the male, the smooth is the hen. NPIP and AI, pm me for details.

***They have found a new home.
We have Olive Egger sexed pullets available. NPIP and AI clean. There are 3 left...

***The Black Copper Marans have found new homes. Ameraucanas are still available.
We have a few of these guys available for discussion. 3 Ameraucanas and 3 Black Copper Marans. Straight Run hatched on Mother's Day.

Incubator Blow Out Sale:
All chicks are now $10 each except Straight Run Olive Eggers they are $5.

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes (SR): $10
Ameraucana, Blue, Black, Splash (SR): $10
Black Copper Marans (SR): $10
Olive Eggers (P): $10
Olive Eggers (SR): $5
Hatching Eggs: $36 per dozen (pickup), $49 (ship)
Educational Hatching Eggs: $5 per dozen(Pickup), $20 (ship)
Table Eggs: $3 per dozen
NPIP and AI clean

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes (SR): $15
Ameraucana, Blue, Black, Splash (SR): $15
Black Copper Marans (SR): $15
Olive Eggers (P): $15
Olive Eggers (SR): $5
Hatching Eggs: $36 per dozen (pickup), $49 (ship)
Educational Hatching Eggs: $5 per dozen(Pickup), $20 (ship)
Table Eggs: $3 per dozen
NPIP and AI clean

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes (SR): $15
Ameraucana, Blue, Black, Splash (SR): $15
Black Copper Marans (SR): $15
Olive Eggers (P): $15
Olive Eggers (SR): $5
Hatching Eggs: $36 per dozen (pickup), $49 (ship)
Educational Hatching Eggs: $5 per dozen(Pickup), $20 (ship)
NPIP and AI clean

Coming soon turkey poults...

Olive Egger Chicks, Straight Run. $10 each, Minimum 2 chicks. NPIP and AI Clean.

Olive Eggers!

Eggs from my Black Copper Marans. Working on darker color but loving what I am getting.

We are getting some good color!

We are NPIP Certified and AI clean! Shipping hatching eggs starting February 5, 2020. Current Breeds are Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, Black Copper Marans, Ameraucana and Olive Eggers (type 1 & 2).