Do you think my Tom is shooting blanks

[bubbachicken]

I have started with two midget white hen chicks in the spring. They started laying early October. Pick up two more hens and a regular bronze Tom. The two white hen continued laying through December. Incubated over 50 eggs. Not one egg had any progress or chick formation.

 

[Crazydoglady99]

How old is your Tom?

Have you seen them mating?

 

[bubbachicken]

I think he’s less than 3. I seen him mate once with a hen when I first got him. Haven’t really seen much after that.

 

[ShannonR]

I'd give them until spring before coming to any conclusions as to the Tom's fertility. Your hens were laying in the off season, springtime is when they typically breed.

 

[bubbachicken]

Will do. Looking for a back up Tom just in case.

 

[ShannonR]

If the size difference between your turkeys is huge, or your tom isn't "experienced" enough that could be part of the problem also. Sometimes it takes them a little bit to get the hang of it

 

[bubbachicken]

Will do think I will get a Tom backup just in case.

 

[ShannonR]

Will do think I will get a Tom backup just in case.

Careful with that idea. I always kept a backup tom, but they needed to be separated far away from each other during breeding season. A lot of the time if I didn't separate them, they would spend more time fighting than breeding the hens. Then you have two Toms and STILL no fertile eggs. Then the rest of the year, they were buddies. In all honesty, I would just give your existing tom a fair chance... during breeding season.

 

[Molpet]

you can open and check the eggs and see if they are fertile... chances are if a couple are fertile most of others will be too