Fertile Egg? ...and Our Boy's Preference

[Azaia]

I'm not sure if I should post this as two questions, but the two are related.

I'm sorry to have to ask what may be so glaringly obvious for those that are familiar in this area.
This is my first few months of having chickens, we have a fairly young flock all still under a year old, still early days here in the UK in the midst of winter.

Can someone tell me is this a definite fertile egg? - our young male is still quite inexperienced.

Also, is it normal for him to prefer some of the girls and absolutely hate one to the extent that he bullies her, only for her to sit and flare her wings ready for some attention and yet she still gets turned down by him? Is there a way for me to ...improve her chances?

 

[MGG]

I'm not sure if I should post this as two questions, but the two are related.

I'm sorry to have to ask what may be so glaringly obvious for those that are familiar in this area.
This is my first few months of having chickens, we have a fairly young flock all still under a year old, still early days here in the UK in the midst of winter.

Can someone tell me is this a definite fertile egg? - our young male is still quite inexperienced.

Also, is it normal for him to prefer some of the girls and absolutely hate one to the extent that he bullies her, only for her to sit and flare her wings ready for some attention and yet she still gets turned down by him? Is there a way for me to ...improve her chances?

That's an infertile egg.
Yes, that's normal. I think all roosters have a favorite hen. Mine never breeds a couple of my hens because he doesn't like them, lol. Are you wanting to breed her?
If so you might just need to separate any hens he doesn't breed much into a pen with a different rooster.
Unless you want to try AI, lol.
How many hens do you have?

 

[Azaia]

We only have a small selection. Two of her kind, both girls. She's a Cotswold legbar. The only other boy I have is an Orpington - way, waay too big for her petite and slender frame.

My concern is with this boy, he's a maran. - he's been with five girls, three he's mated with. Yet I haven't yet had a fertile egg. He's been with them for around four months. They're all about 8 months old now, maybe 9. Is this unusual? Could he be infertile?

 

[Azaia]

That's an infertile egg.
Yes, that's normal. I think all roosters have a favorite hen. Mine never breeds a couple of my hens because he doesn't like them, lol. Are you wanting to breed her?
If so you might just need to separate any hens he doesn't breed much into a pen with a different rooster.
Unless you want to try AI, lol.
How many hens do you have?

Reply above ^ Sorry, still learning how to use this platform.