An indelicate question re. chickens and mating

[Jean in Newcastle]

My dc want to know exactly how the rooster gets his seed in the egg? I have no problem with telling them but being a non-farm girl, I don't know the answer. Can any of you with chickens answer their question?

[Tammy]

http://www.users.on.net/~greggles/reproduce.html

Tammy

[yslek]

Hmm... not really a farm girl either, but we did have chickens during some of my growing-up years, and I've seen chickens mate plenty of times. However, I'm still not sure I know the answer to your question.;)
Here's what I could observe: the rooster mounts the hen, and the hen sort of squats. It takes all of about 20 seconds (maybe less.) Not sure what parts "connect" though. :confused:
Hope you get some clearer replies than mine.:)
Kelsy

[Whisperlily]

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking... The egg is fertilized internally before it is encased in the shell, in the same way most eggs become fertilized. ;)

[Doran]

http://www.users.on.net/~greggles/reproduce.html (http://www.users.on.net/%7Egreggles/reproduce.html)

Tammy

This link gets at just about everything except the actual specific mechanics. Basically, the rooster has a small penis which facillitates mating. When he mounts the female, he tips his cloaca forward in order to connect with the cloaca of his "mate" and the penis is inserted, in that brief 15-20 seconds, in order for the sperm to be introduced. From here, you can refer your children to the site Tammy has linked which makes me laugh in that it points out that the most enjoyable part for the hen appears to be when she is able to shake her feathers after the deed is done. As if we needed to know that. :rolleyes: ;)

HTH,
Doran

[Tammy]

Maybe they just wanted you to know....that it is not so....'enjoyable' to them :)

[Doran]

Maybe they just wanted you to know....that it is not so....'enjoyable' to them :)

It just cracks me up that the human author of that piece would interject at all about whether it was pleasurable or not. :eek:

Tee hee.

Doran

[Jean in Newcastle]

Well, I told my kids a compilation of the info. from all of you. Ds10 shuddered in response. Dd6 said, "Is that it?!" Well, now we know!

[Karen sn]

Jean - even more fascinating is how an egg is formed. It's a very detailed cycle and in the end the "uterus" spins it for 19 hours putting on the shell.

[jail warden]

That is cool!