Does rooster fertility decrease in the winter?

[Trish1974]

I have two older Araucana hens that are still laying through these short, dark days. Each one is with a different male. I successfully hatched from these pairs this past summer. I have noticed within the past few months that their eggs are not fertilized. I do see them mate. Nothing has changed except the shortening of the days and no access to bugs and grass. If it matters... one of the cockbirds is 1 year 3 months and the other is just shy of 3 years old. Is the lack of fertility a side effect of the time of year?

 

[azygous]

Winter is a time of rest. The short days cause both hens and roosters to molt and to grow a new set of feathers. This is where their energy is focused.

However, if there are hens that are still ovulating, a rooster will attempt to rise to the occasion, at least mine does, and he will mate these winter active hens, although he isn't nearly as enthusiastic as in spring and summer. But due to the short days, his sperm are likely to be far less numerous, so you may find some eggs aren't fertilized.

As the days become longer, the light stimulates the production of hormones of both hens and roosters, and mating activity picks up. Fertility is timed to peak at the time plants and insects become plentiful so that raising new broods is accomplished during a period when food is easy to find.

So yes, in the dark of winter, the rooster's fertility decreases, but doesn't stop all together.

 

[Mrs. K]

When a rooster gets a red stripe in his legs in the spring, well the sap is rising!