Few babies?

[kevinnini]

I have 1 rooster and 6 hens. One broody hen disappeared onto a nest with 7 eggs. only 3 hatched...I broke the other 4 and none showed any sign of development...does this mean my Roo is not too potent?

 

[Sixpets]

That could be but maybe the eggs were in the wrong place to grow and never did but it could be that he is not potent

 

[Eggcessive]

There can be many reasons for eggs not developing. I have noticed that certain breeds such as RIR, New Hampshire, and Isa Browns have larger percentages of hatch, while my ameraucana, d'uccle, or faverolles eggs have very low hatches. Here is a good thread that points out problems in hatching: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/egg-failure-to-hatch-diagnosing-incubation-problems