Fertility issues

[TheHenMaster91]

I tried to hatch 12 eggs, candled them at 8 days, then cracked them all to check, not a single fertile egg. Ive had my hens with my rooster, Mr Smith, for 4 weeks. He is a 3 year old Araucana, last year he survived a bear attack, the only noticeable issue with him is that he has grown white feathers were his wound healed. Before I had him, and before the attack, he was fertile for sure and he is currently mounting each hen. So my questions are; Could the bear attack have affected his fertility? Is it an aim issue, he is Aracuana so hes rumpless and Im sure that adds so stability issues? Is fertility seasonal in roosters? Has he just not been with the girls long enough? Sorry if this isnt quite the right place to post this.

 

[SIMZ]

I've read that older roosters may not have great fertility until later in the spring. I'm not sure if that's true, maybe give it a bit longer and see if that changes now that the days are getting longer. I'd think if you're still not getting fertile eggs in a few weeks then really watch and see if he's trying to mate. At that point you could see if it's a balance/aim issue or if he's even trying.

 

[TheHenMaster91]

Would he mount but not follow through? I seem him mount each hen every couple of days, but I definitely wasnt watching close enough to see his aim haha

 

[SIMZ]

Good question! Hopefully, someone else jumps in here. I'd think if you're seeing him mount the hens then it should just be a matter of time - unless he's infertile or just mounting without following through.

 

[rapturecidal]

My main dominate rooster Pedro will be 4 July 11th 2015 and he is very fertile. He has a lot of sons and daughters. He's killed the one cat that I know of, but as far as surviving a bear attack I have no idea how your rooster did that.

 

[TheHenMaster91]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/927062/the-incredible-inedible-mr-smith I posted his wounds and after care. I think he was fast and the bear was full after eating my ducks! I now have a 6000V electric fence up

 

[rapturecidal]

Well unless it got his gonads i don't think it should have made him infertile. Because Pedro has been in so many fights I've lost count. cat fights, rooster fights even chased away a raven, I think he may have even been in a skunk fight but I'm not sure.

I'll tell you what though that's really amazing that your rooster survived a bear fight.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sounds like he's a true Araucana. From the reading that I've done on the breed, there is a fatal gene that (?sometimes) accompanies the rumpless trait. However, my understanding is that the chicks that inherit this gene die in egg before hatch. I wonder if Araucanas are more prone to fertility issues in general. You might see if there is an Araucana breeds thread, and see what kind of information you can scare out of the woodwork on the subject.