[cherrypie]

ok don't laugh.... i might know where my own children came from but, can someone enlighten me about the birds and the cockerals....does the cockerel need to do his stuff for every fertilised egg or does one night of passion service a whole clutch of eggs, when does the egg actually get fertilised? is inside the hen or is it once the hen starts sitting? i've grasped the concept of the chick growth only starting once the heat is at the right temperature, but i've heard that you need to let the sperm settle if you buy and transport fertile eggs.
i bought fertilised eggs and hatched 3 chicks yesterday, yippee,  if one (or more of them) is a cockerel, do hens become more broody if they see a cockerel or does having a cockerel stimulate chucks to lay and when do little chicks reach puberty and are able to perform......can you neuter a cockerel to stop him crowing? when would be the time to remove a cockerel from my flock?
i'm sure someone can help me, i'm sure our teatime conversations will become more illuminated if we can have some actual facts!
thanks cherrypie

[WG.]

can you neuter a cockerel to stop him crowing?

Heh - a chook question I can answer (partly).  A neutered cock is a capon.  Dunno if he stops crowing.

[Aunt Sally]

You don't want to know much do you cherrypie  :roll:

This site should get you started

 http://msucares.com/poultry/reproductions/index.html

Caponising is illegal in this country nowadays

[richyrich7]

Oh boy    I can answer a few I think
Hens will lay without a cock, hens start laying a about 24 weeks, cocks are active at about 18 weeks ( i think )
Thats me done

[mercury]

Yes, one night of passion will service a whole clutch of eggs  

[agapanthus]

Yes, one night of passion will service a whole clutch of eggs  

One night.....what about the other 5 times during the day??!!!!! :shock:  :shock:

[alan42]

lets answear as they come 1 one mating for about 15 eggs i think it is, 2 the egg is fertalised inside the chicken. 3 you should let eggs rest at room temperatyre for 24 hours before setting. 4 hens dont need a cockrel to become broody that is done by mother nature. 5 you cannot i repeat cannot by any means whatsoever stop a cock from crowing so if its neighbours your worried about forget it and get rid of cocks. 6 remove a cock anytime you want to the birds will not be bothered the cock will be but not the hens lol.
anything else just ask
good luck
alan

[WG.]

One night.....what about the other 5 times during the day??!!!!! :shock:  :shock:

[irish accent]
To be sure, to be sure
[/irish accent]