8th-annual-byc-new-years-day-2017-hatch-a-long

[junebuggena]

Does anyone have any idea of how to get my chickens in the mood for breeding? Heat lamps? Candle light dinners? I want them to breed so I can have fertile eggs for a Valentine's Day hatch.

How old is your rooster and how old are your hens?

 

[Karen523]

A Winter Broody!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder....Set up a little pen for him where the hens can see him and keep them separate from them for a week. Then let him in with the girls. He should start breeding them within a couple of weeks. If not, then separate for a couple of days and then back in for a couple of days until the eggs go fertile.

Okay, I'll try that in January. Hopefully I'll start seeing fertile eggs by the beginning of Feb.

 

[Karen523]

How old is your rooster and how old are your hens?

They are a range of ages from about 8 to 11months old. The rooster is about 11 months old. They are all laying, but that may change soon with the colder weather.

 

[bauerdog]

Candle went well last night, only 2 possible duds. Probably infertile.... And I have Silkie chicks due to hatch Christmas eve!

 

[junebuggena]

They are a range of ages from about 8 to 11months old. The rooster is about 11 months old. They are all laying, but that may change soon with the colder weather.

Likely just a matter of time. It's not cold that affects laying, it's the shorter days. The solstice is in just a few more days, and then days will start to get longer. With the longer days comes increased egg production and better fertility for the roosters.

 

[Cynthia12]

"Speckled Beaters" hmmm. Sadly, most of my chickens only get one name - and a few I can't tell apart are just the "Littles" even though some of them are much bigger than the "Big girls" - it's all as logical as chicken math.

Willie Shelton!

 

[Cynthia12]

And I thought we were freezing here!

 

[syndie]

Does anyone have any idea of how to get my chickens in the mood for breeding? Heat lamps? Candle light dinners? I want them to breed so I can have fertile eggs for a Valentine's Day hatch.

My roosters are ready all the time in fact i think they wait until i come into the coup so they can do it right in front of me!!!!

 

[Cynthia12]

Does anyone have any idea of how to get my chickens in the mood for breeding? Heat lamps? Candle light dinners? I want them to breed so I can have fertile eggs for a Valentine's Day hatch.

Hmmm....

Anyone?

 

[Cynthia12]

I have a couple of those silkie eggs pipped. I could hear a silkie screaming all night..thought for sure I would see a huge pip, but no, couldn't see one. I hope that pip isn't on the bottom and it can't zip. :/