Thanks, the bride is a lovely, stylish American of Scottish descent. No, no Haggis at the wedding smile. Brian is in the Navy and just finished a 4 yr. stint on the Historic Ship Nautilus. Currently in Sub School studying to be an Assistant Navigator.
Haggis. Blech! Hubby doesn't mind the American version (since they apparently can't import the real thing). Thank your son for his service. Sounds like he has a great career going. If your son is isn't already aware, there is a US Navy tartan that is just beautiful. My husband Bryan has a kilt and a piper's plaid made out of it.
I'm confused, because if I am reading your post correctly those numbers show an increase in fertility, not a decrease: early eggs (4/2 to 4/6) 5 of 17 eggs were infertile (29% infertile, 71% fertile). Later eggs (4/7 to 4/15) 5 of 31 infertile (16% infertile, 84% fertile). If the numbers in your post are correct, it sounds like fertility is improving the longer the sperm is stored. Which seems odd. Are the numbers you posted correct?Have any of you noticed any correlation between age of sperm and thriftiness of hatchlings? Or any affect of heat on a cock's sperm? I have been continuing to incubate eggs from my Good Shepard Barred Rocks but took the male out of the breeding pen on 4/2. I am patiently waiting for all the eggs to be infertile since I wanted to switch males and hatch some from my other male. I have seen a decline in fertility, but it has been too soon, I think, for it to be because the sperm from previous matings is no longer viable. Wondering if it could be the heat. It just hit 95 here today, but up until today, it has "just" been in the upper 80's. Eggs laid 4/2 to 4/6, 5 out of 17 were infertile. Eggs laid 4/7 to 4/15, 5 out of 31 were infertile, so almost twice the # of eggs, but same # of infertileIs there any problem with hatching eggs that are fertilized from "old" semen? And as far as the heat, do others who live in very hot climates notice decline in fertility? I wonder if the heat affects the sperm or if the heat is just inhibiting the males from breeding. I am thinking may be best to wait until fall to hatch from the other male? Opinions?
Living either in S.C., or Georgia, I have never tried to breed birds when the temps are in the 90s or above. I can tell you that sheep and goat rams and bucks are infertile when the outdoor temps get above 98 degrees. The boys' crown jewels must stay below their body temp for them to be fertile.Have any of you noticed any correlation between age of sperm and thriftiness of hatchlings? Or any affect of heat on a cock's sperm? I have been continuing to incubate eggs from my Good Shepard Barred Rocks but took the male out of the breeding pen on 4/2. I am patiently waiting for all the eggs to be infertile since I wanted to switch males and hatch some from my other male. I have seen a decline in fertility, but it has been too soon, I think, for it to be because the sperm from previous matings is no longer viable. Wondering if it could be the heat. It just hit 95 here today, but up until today, it has "just" been in the upper 80's. Eggs laid 4/2 to 4/6, 5 out of 17 were infertile. Eggs laid 4/7 to 4/15, 5 out of 31 were infertile, so almost twice the # of eggs, but same # of infertileIs there any problem with hatching eggs that are fertilized from "old" semen? And as far as the heat, do others who live in very hot climates notice decline in fertility? I wonder if the heat affects the sperm or if the heat is just inhibiting the males from breeding. I am thinking may be best to wait until fall to hatch from the other male? Opinions?
Apparently there is some kind of regulation about "real" haggis being imported. Can't remember all the little details about what the problem with it being brought into the states is but I thought it was weird when I heard about it. When my husband pipes at various events, they always have an Americanized version that doesn't have all the ingredients in it that they would have in it in Scotland. Would love to have your recipe - thank you for offering.
Yes, the numbers are correct. All the hens are together, the first group I mentioned was only 6 days of egg collection, perhaps there was one hen that is laying infertile eggs that was laying extra duty during that time period. That is the only thing that makes sense to me. I keep incubating their eggs waiting to see a bunch of infertile eggs, but hasn't happened yet. What I SHOULD be doing, is cooking those eggs and feeding them to the chickens, which is what I do with the infertile ones. But NOOOO....they are fertile, so I leave them in the incubator--I am up to 51 of these chicks now, do you think I have enough to grow out and pick from for next year yet?
