Fertilization rates

[GodLovesU]

I have a D’uccle rooster and 10 standard hens. I never see him mount the hens, but do think he still could be? He used to try, but I don’t know if he still does. I have never had a standard-bantam cross, but I know they’re possible. My hens range from a small Starlight Green Egger to a Buff Orpington. I thought I might would fire up the incubator to see if I could hatch any. Any thoughts?

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

My little OEGB tries to mount hens lol but they're all twice his size. I'd try and incubate the eggs, you might as well!

 

[SilverBirds]

Have you cracked open any eggs and checked for bullseyes?

 

[GodLovesU]

Have you cracked open any eggs and checked for bullseyes?

I have not, I’ll check next time someone cooks some.

 

[member 701893]

I had a bantam rooster that got mixed in with my order of chicks one year and he was the king of the flock. He always tried and there was a couple of my bigger hens he was successful with about half the time, so if you really want some mixes I would try incubating them and see

 

[MGG]

I had a little buff brahma roo that did the job on all of my big hens. I've got six mixes to prove it. He even managed my 10 lb BLRW hen. Definitely crack a few to check, but I'd say it's likely at least some are fertile. You also sometimes get hens that just don't like some roosters and won't let them mate, but obviously that wouldn't be any fault of his.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My thoughts. If you do not try you definitely will not get chicks. If you try you might. So your options are to give up without trying or try it and see what happens.

Life is kinda like that. Those that try sometimes have success. Those that do not try don't. How badly do you want chicks?

 

[GodLovesU]

Thanks for all the input! I wasn’t wanting chicks very badly, I was just wondering if it would be possible.

 

[GodLovesU]

Update: he definitely fertilized a few! My mom cracked them open to cook them and I could see a bullseye. The are from my smallest standard hen, so that tracks.

 

[Island Coppers]

GodLovesU​

"I thought I might would fire up the incubator to see if I could hatch any. Any thoughts?"
So, you started this thread because you really want to have sweet baby standard-bantam cross chicks.. And you want the crew here to blow a little wind in your sails.
You've got fertile eggs, if you have the time, I say: go for it!
And share the story with us, from eggs to fuzz balls