Day 20 with a broody hen

[jessicachick23]

So the breeders in question are your birds?
What is their primary food?

Yes. Purina layer pellets omega 3.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That is a good quality feed. Is it fresh (mill date)?
How long has the rooster been eating layer feed?

 

[jessicachick23]

That is a good quality feed. Is it fresh (mill date)?
How long has the rooster been eating layer feed?

Yes it is fresh and the rooster has been on the feed since he was 18 weeks so around 3 months

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There is evidence that roosters fed a high calcium/high protein diet can suffer from lower sperm motility and epididymal lithiasis. That is basically stones blocking the transport of semen. 3 months doesn't seem long enough to have those results but I just thought I would throw it out there. Normally, broody hens have extremely high hatch rates with fresh fertile eggs.
Layer feed is considered high calcium for roosters and while 16% protein isn't real high, mature roosters don't really need that much either.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Have you witnessed breeding?

 

[jessicachick23]

There is evidence that roosters fed a high calcium/high protein diet can suffer from lower sperm motility and epididymal lithiasis. That is basically stones blocking the transport of semen. 3 months doesn't seem long enough to have those results but I just thought I would throw it out there. Normally, broody hens have extremely high hatch rates with fresh fertile eggs.
Layer feed is considered high calcium for roosters and while 16% protein isn't real high, mature roosters don't really need that much either.

That is all good information to know. Thanks for telling me. The rooster was rehomed so unfortunately even if I wanted to I can’t try to hatch chicks again since the eggs won’t be fertile. In the future if I get another rooster, what are you supposed to feed them?

 

[jessicachick23]

Have you witnessed breeding?

Oh yes

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

OK, just checking.

 

[jessicachick23]

It's just weird to me I check the eggs throughout the process and I see them developing and then it comes time for hatch and nothing

 

[jessicachick23]

What day do I need to remove the eggs that are past due from the hen? I don't think she's going to give up she's still sitting consistently on them.