Egg Fertility

[inufreecs]

I've been planning on incubating a couple of my chickens eggs but am worried that they aren't fertilized. When i first introduced my rooster to my two hens he went straight for them and attempted to mate with them. However, he is a silkie so he's smaller than the hens. He's been with us for a few months now but i haven't seen him mount the hens again. It also doesn't help that the eggs that i have harvesting don't seem to be fertile. Is there a way to encourage him to breed?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They do not look fertile. A bantam rooster needs to learn how to position himself von bigger hens to be successful. Some roosters never learn. Have you observed mating to see if he's hitting his mark? What breeds are your hens?

 

[inufreecs]

They do not look fertile. A bantam rooster needs to learn how to position himself von bigger hens to be successful. Some roosters never learn. Have you observed mating to see if he's hitting his mark? What breeds are your hens?

Yes, i believe the size of the hens is the problem. I have a light brahma and a barred rock.

 

[aart]

Hmmm...how old are those eggs and where were they stored?
Tho there's no definitive ring, they don't look like a typical infertile blastodisc.
Might try to incubate just too be sure......should be able to see veins by 5 days.
Great pics BTW!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Those eggs do not look fertile......sorry.

 

[inufreecs]

Hmmm...how old are those eggs and where were they stored?
Tho there's no definitive ring, they don't look like a typical infertile blastodisc.
Might try to incubate just too be sure......should be able to see veins by 5 days.
Great pics BTW!

The eggs were stored for about four days before i decided to crack them open. I've decided to ask my friend if he can give me a few of his fertile eggs to try and hatch them along with a pair of mine (although i'm pretty sure mine won't hatch)

 

[aart]

I've decided to ask my friend if he can give me a few of his fertile eggs to try

Would be great if you could an extra or two and check the yolks,
and take more great pics

 

[EggSighted4Life]

However, he is a silkie so he's smaller than the hens. He's been with us for a few months now but i haven't seen him mount the hens again.

My large fowl hens do NOT accept the advance of my bantam rooster but are perfectly happy to mate with and follow the large fowl boy. It doesn't matter how much he treat calls or dances they just laugh at him. They aren't convinced of his dominance and don't consider him suitable to fertilize their eggs... is my best guess, even though he does not back down from the other boy. This may be your issue.

I don't do it... but some on here have been known to manually fertilize the eggs... I don't know the details. Silkie bred to hard feathered, offspring will be hard feathered in the first generation.

Happy hatching!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

You could try holding down the hen and let the silkie mount?

 

[inufreecs]

Would be great if you could an extra or two and check the yolks,
and take more great pics

Yep, i could do that