Expert: Abi - 9/8/2007

Question
QUESTION: we had a fox attack about 5 months ago and 1 survived out of the 5 and we have just got a new one for company and its a cockerel he is only around 6 weeks old and shes about 1 1/2 years old when would she start laying fertile eggs and how long will it take for them to hatch

from ellie age 10

ANSWER: Hello Ellie :)
I'm very sad to hear about your fox attack, we've got lots of foxes here and we have to keep our chickens very safe!
Your cockerel should be fully mature when he is 16 weeks old, but it may take a little longer for your hen to start laying fertile eggs. You'll be able to tell when he's ready cos he will start to harass her all the time!

It will take the eggs about 21 days to hatch, but it may be a day later or earlier than that. I would recommend that you buy a 'broody hen' or find a friend who has a hen who will sit on the fertilised eggs for you, unless you have an incubator. It depends on the breed of your little hen on whether she will sit on the eggs to hatch them or not.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi its me ellie age 10
out of are old batch we had to babys and she would role any eggs under her to keep them warm so would she be allright on her own or shall we do like u said and get a brood hen and if so were shall we get one thnx from ellie

Answer
Hello again!
If she rolls the eggs under her and looks after them then she will be fine! She may go 'broody' when the cockerel is about 18 weeks old. You should let her lay lots of eggs and leave them in the nest box for her to sit on. When I breed my chickens I find it much easier and often it turns out better when I just leave my chickens to it. I just stop collecting the eggs so the hen will go broody!
Or you can still collect the eggs and put them in your fridge in an egg box, and wait for the hen to go broody, then give the eggs to her. Your cockerel will start harassing her at 16 weeks but she will probably start laying fertile eggs around 18 weeks so be patient! :)