EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[BullChick]

 

[Faraday40]

Having issues with English Orp fertility this year, so I did some more feather trims. This time on the hens.

Here's my very personal question: Is this enough trimming? (pic below) I don't want the hens to lose their pretty fluffy-pantiloons, but I do want to get some hatchable eggs.

Spoiler: Warning: chicken butt pics

I trimmed above & below the vent. I've done it in the past to reduce cling-poop, but never needed to do much for fertility. None of the trimming shows unless her tail is lifted like below pic.

If both sexes are trimmed like this, should it be enough or do I need to do more trimming?

 

[BullChick]

I’m sorry. I was hoping someone could give a better educated answer.
Yes, it looks good enough.
I’m not sure how old they are, but if this is their first or second spring, it could just be a case of lower fertility over the winter. I have experienced low to no fertility in the early spring.

 

[Pensmaster]

Having issues with English Orp fertility this year, so I did some more feather trims. This time on the hens.

Here's my very personal question: Is this enough trimming? (pic below) I don't want the hens to lose their pretty fluffy-pantiloons, but I do want to get some hatchable eggs.

Spoiler: Warning: chicken butt pics

I trimmed above & below the vent. I've done it in the past to reduce cling-poop, but never needed to do much for fertility. None of the trimming shows unless her tail is lifted like below pic.

If both sexes are trimmed like this, should it be enough or do I need to do more trimming?

That should be plenty. I had a English lavender orp rooster that wasn’t fertile for a year. Never did trim their butts and they were fine after the year.

 

[BullChick]

As I’ve always said. Any response is better than none. The person feels acknowledged, and it magically brings attention to the post that somehow got overlooked.

Of course, this was a very busy thread when I said it two loooooooooooong years ago.

 

[Faraday40]

I’m sorry. I was hoping someone could give a better educated answer.
Yes, it looks good enough.
I’m not sure how old they are, but if this is their first or second spring, it could just be a case of lower fertility over the winter. I have experienced low to no fertility in the early spring.

That should be plenty. I had a English lavender orp rooster that wasn’t fertile for a year. Never did trim their butts and they were fine after the year.

Yes. That could be it. I'm only seeing about 1/2 the eggs with bull's eyes.

The pullets are June 2017 hatch.
I have an old man roo who doesn't seem to be as "active" as he used to be and a cockerel also from June 2017. I don't think the young roo's got the hang of it yet and I rarely see either mating. There's technically a 3rd male (great grandson of my old roo) but he's going to be dinner. He's only 5 mo but at least trying & getting pecked by the hens for his efforts. The weather isn't helping with tons of snow/cold followed by a warm muddy melt, then everything flash freezing again.

The hens are squatting for me, so there's obviously some confusion going on! Last year, I only saw a bit of mating in the morning when the roosters 1st got put out into the yard. Of course every egg was fertile last summer, so I never worried.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes. That could be it. I'm only seeing about 1/2 the eggs with bull's eyes.

The pullets are June 2017 hatch.
I have an old man roo who doesn't seem to be as "active" as he used to be and a cockerel also from June 2017. I don't think the young roo's got the hang of it yet and I rarely see either mating. There's technically a 3rd male (great grandson of my old roo) but he's going to be dinner. He's only 5 mo but at least trying & getting pecked by the hens for his efforts. The weather isn't helping with tons of snow/cold followed by a warm muddy melt, then everything flash freezing again.

The hens are squatting for me, so there's obviously some confusion going on! Last year, I only saw a bit of mating in the morning when the roosters 1st got put out into the yard. Of course every egg was fertile last summer, so I never worried.

Are English Orps the only breed you raise?
Do you have room for more birds? To keep fertility high, it's important to control inbreeding. I try to keep 3 separate lines and usually have 5 primary roosters. In the course of a year I go through about 20 or more good cockerels after culling those with obvious flaws and then I pare down from those young ones to select replacements.
I have very little space for chickens so it is a major juggling operation. They basically share a half acre or so with all my gardening and bee hives.

 

[mlm Mike]

Good morning everyone!

The chickens are enjoying the warm weather, currently 61*F.

My sister is in town, well 1 1/2 hours north, so I get to see her, a niece, and great nephew today, and by see them I mean go out to lunch where they will stick me with the check.

Then I'll probably head out to the lake either this afternoon or tomorrow morning, depending on if I want to drive more and how high the lake is. The lake should be at 992 feet, and is currently at 1001.68 feet, with my dock laying against a tree at about 1005 feet. Plenty more rain expected, I need to tie the dock together and anchor it.

 

[kwhites634]

Had to add "a" to the end of my username & email address.
PITA

Forget that! didn't change BYC

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good morning everyone!

The chickens are enjoying the warm weather, currently 61*F.

My sister is in town, well 1 1/2 hours north, so I get to see her, a niece, and great nephew today, and by see them I mean go out to lunch where they will stick me with the check.

Then I'll probably head out to the lake either this afternoon or tomorrow morning, depending on if I want to drive more and how high the lake is. The lake should be at 992 feet, and is currently at 1001.68 feet, with my dock laying against a tree at about 1005 feet. Plenty more rain expected, I need to tie the dock together and anchor it.

Good morning Mike.
Will you be fishing?
It is amazing isn't it? It's 67 here now and I don't think it got below 65 overnight.
We were in severe drought conditions up to a couple days ago. Now we're in the midst of about 5 straight days of rain. Luckily some of the worst is missing us.