Fall egg rate dropping, fertility rising

[secuono]

Is this just weird luck? Are they planing it like this?
Lol!
I have about 5-7 eggs growing I recently picked up, all are fertile.
I have 3 or 4 older ones, also fertile.
Just a few months ago, maybe half would be fertile, but never all like this.
Is this normal or just my good luck?
Hopefully they all hatch and are healthy. Crazy Japs!

Anyone else noticing a higher fertility rate when the # of eggs decreases?

 

[magicpigeon]

I know where you're coming from

My silkies have all but stopped laying, but according to my calculations every egg is set for hatching

 

[Happy Chooks]

I've noticed the same. With most of my girls molting, they aren't very receptive to mating, so my rooster is servicing the ones that are laying resulting in more fertile eggs. Less girls to mate with.

 

[Shanda]

I have what could be a very stupid question regarding this. How do you know if an egg is fertile? Is this just by observing your rooster? Or is there something about the egg that tells you this?

 

[magicpigeon]

1. You need to have a rooster at least 8 months
However the only way to be sure is either to crack it open or incubate it then candle ...i think

 

[Illia]

Now is when you gather all those nice, fertile eggs, rush on over, and incubate 'em all before you've got none left!

 

[BlacksheepCardigans]

If they're rose comb (pea comb, walnut comb, anything but single comb) breeds it would make a lot of sense, actually. Less hardy, less viable sperm, so if a rooster has several chances to get it done before the egg is no longer available to be fertilized (i.e., the egg conveyor belt has slowed!) he can fertilize better.

 

[drdoolittle]

I wish I had this problem----well, at leats the fertility part! I had a BO hen setting about 12 eggs, and was really happy as that group is about 2 yrs. old, and I wanted some chicks from them. I brought half the eggs in this weekend to candle, and not one was fertile.

 

[secuono]

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i agree

 

[secuono]

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exactly what I'm doing, lol.