Hi, i've got a trio of Buff Orpingtons recentely, and I know they're 16/17 weeks old. I was wondering if they will be producing fertile eggs, as they have been with the cock all theie lives. Are they old enough to be fertile eggs yet?

If anyone could let me know asap, thatd be great, thanks a lot, Laurie

-- Laurie Irving (munky9158@hotmail.com), February 17, 2002

Answers

All my hens start laying around 6 months. They will lay pullet [small] eggs at first and get bigger over time. I think they would be fertile soon after they start laying if they are with a rooster.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), February 17, 2002.

You might want to wait til the eggs are of normal size before hatching. The small eggs wouldn't produce a healthy chick. Best of luck!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), February 17, 2002.

Buffies will begin to lay eggs at about 20 weeks. They will technically be fertile shortly thereafter. HOWEVER - do not set pullet eggs for hatching. My rule of thumb is that I do not set eggs until the producing hen is a year old. That may be a bit conservative, but I would wait until the hens are at least 8 months old. Who else has any experience in this? GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), February 17, 2002.

Laurie, I agree with everyone, do not use the pullet eggs to hatch. I wait a couple of months until the eggs are full size to set them. It is hard to wait sometimes, my partridge cochins(standard size) just stated laying and I want to set the eggs, but will wait. Have fun!

-- Karen Mauk (kansashobbit@yahoo.com), February 17, 2002.