Breeding Tips?

[Valhalla Acres]

I have been trying to hatch new chicks but none of my eggs have been fertile. I have LF Buff Orpingtons, all of them are between 1-2 years. they are beautiful birds for show and I have a whole breeding plan for them. At the moment they aren't laying but I was wondering if I could get any tips for spring hatching season, please and thank you.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Orpingtons can be rather fluffy in the nether regions, this can interfere with a good cloacal "kiss"

 

[centrarchid]

One my concerns is conditioning the birds, especially the hens. They are kept away from rooster for at least two weeks while provide a richer, higher quality diet. I like to put the hens on a mixture of 18-20% crude protein diet mixed with something to increase carotenoid levels. They also get free-choice access to oyster shell. If all goes well they will put on some yellow fat. Then, when practical I keep the conditioning hens in smaller social groups to reduce stress.

How eggs are handling prior to start of incubation is also important.

 

[Valhalla Acres]

Do you have a rooster?

Yes, I have a rooster, I have been breeding different breeds of chickens and I just started with my buffs earlier this year. But I wasn't able to get any chicks.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Yes, I have a rooster, I have been breeding different breeds of chickens and I just started with my buffs earlier this year. But I wasn't able to get any chicks.

Have you cracked any of the eggs to see if they are fertile?

 

[sourland]

Check on fertility as suggested by @Crazy for Chickens! has suggested. Perhaps your rooster is sterile. If eggs are not fertile, plucking vent feathers on the rooster and hens can help him 'make contact'. Feed a high quality game bird breeding ration in the spring. Good luck.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Failure to hatch does not always =not fertile. Have you checked the germinal disc of som unincubated eggs to see if they were fertilized? Are you setting under hens or incubating?if incubating, what parameters are you following? Have you candles during incubation ation or eggtopsied unhatched eggs?

 

[Gray Farms]

I always trim the feather around the vent on my "fluffy" breeds. English Orpingtons, Cochins, Brahmas. Above the vent on females and below the vent on males. 0% hatch rate makes me think of the incubation/egg handling process first. Sterile males do happen but its not all that common.

 

[diamondsilkies]

What's your rooster to hen ratio?

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Do you have a rooster?