Cockerel is being selective

[Rebechenson75]

I've been checking my eggs regularly to see if they are being fertilized by my cockerel. I occasionally find a fertilized egg from. One of the wynadottes ot one of the brahmas. I have found that all of my BCMs eggs are fertilized. Is there a reason he isn't mating with all the pullets regularly? They are all the same age.

 

[fluffycrow]

Every male has his favourites. I haven’t found cockerels to be particularly selective, but it’s still winter, and there are always exceptions to the “rule”.

Depending on the number of birds, and his drive in relation to the season, it makes sense that he does not manage to cover them all regularly.

How old are they, and what breed is the cockerel?

I don’t see this as a concern, nor something that has an easy fix. Let him work it out on his own. As spring comes and takes its hold, I’d expect things to get better

 

[Pork Pie]

Pecking order can also influence the issue (so I’ve read). Those higher up the pecking order have more of a say as to whether they are mated. As mentioned above, there are likely a range of variables involved.

 

[Rebechenson75]

He is an 8 month old Light Brahma. The ladies are all the same age as him.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree there is nothing you can do but wait. Each individual chicken has its own personality. Each flock has its own dynamics. Different things could be going on: flock dominance, pecking order, time of year, degree of maturity, many different things. Time is going to be the solution for most of these things.

If you want to incubate eggs you can try. It sounds like many of them should develop and hatch. Otherwise, just be patient and see how it is going when the grass turns green and spring is really here.