Cockerels not doing there job. :(

[Pivotman94]

Hi guys,

So I just got an Incubater and wanted to hatch out some chicks but after 13 days in the incubater there is zero sign of life.
This can only mean that cockerels are not doing there job. I have two cockerels who don't seem to be to intersted in the hens?

Is there any way to get them intersted?

 

[chicklover 1998]

well how old are they?

 

[Pivotman94]

Not to sure really. They were given to me.
I would say old a few years at least.

I got a new rooster, a young leghorn and very slowly introduced him into the flock.
It went well at first a few little fights but I have so much space they all seemed to stay away from one another.
He was very good up until now. I think one of the older roosters has scared him and he is no longer chasing the girls.

What can I do? :/

 

[chicklover 1998]

a cockerel is a male chicken under the age of one and a rooster is a male over the age of one, a cockerel may be too young to mate but if you think they are a few years old they may just be shooting blanks. and it is the pecking order the older roo may just have shoved him so far down the pecking order that he isn't willing to risk fighting just to mate or the other ones may just not be allowing him to do so.

 

[Pivotman94]

So whats the best thing to do. Find new home for the old fellas?

 

[chicklover 1998]

I would get rid of them if they were shooting blanks, you can find a new home or butcher them your choice, I would say you could keep them still just as yard candy if you can't part with them but if they are chasing the leghorn off so he can't mate, and you aren't getting any fertlie eggs then I would get rid of them.

 

[azjustin]

You didn't really specify any real timelines....

We've had hens stop laying for two weeks after being moved from a coop, to another coop, five feet away.

We've had cockerels that inseminate everything that moved (even my boots), but not touched new hens for several weeks.

We've had new hens missing tail feathers (and no fertile eggs) for weeks because they resisted the roosters.

We've had old hens just decide they didn't like the cocks/roosters for no reason and thrown away incubated eggs that previously would have been fertilized.

And the absolute WORST offense: I changed everyone from crumbles to pellets. I'm not even sure those chickens knew if they should mutiny or commit seppuku.

Point being: give them time. Everyone may need to adjust. Sometimes it takes longer than others.

This is our experiences, hopefully it helps.

 

[Pivotman94]

I would get rid of them if they were shooting blanks, you can find a new home or butcher them your choice, I would say you could keep them still just as yard candy if you can't part with them but if they are chasing the leghorn off so he can't mate, and you aren't getting any fertlie eggs then I would get rid of them.

I have a few eggs in the incubator now to check and see whats what. If they are infertile I will have to do some thing about the old fellas as they are chasing the leghorn off.
I will know in a week or so. :/

 

[Pork Pie]

I'm assuming that you have checked the yolks of the eggs? (sorry, it might be very obvious question). Even for future reference, you may find this link handy to keep somewhere.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

Good luck

CT

 

[Pivotman94]

I had not, Didn't know you could do that.

Still learning day by day!

Ok well the good news is that two eggs laid today seem fertile so maybe my fellas are doing more then I thought.