Few Fertile Eggs

[Jake1297]

I have 6 Hens 3 each, RIR and BR. One rooster which is a Cochin. They are all good layers. The problem is I set 41 eggs in the bator collected over a week. When I candled them on the 8th day Out of the 41, only 6 were fertile with movement. The rest were all clear. I opened several up and they were just yolks and whites. Is this normal to have so few that were fertile? Or is there to many hens for my little rooster??

 

[austinandkara]

Is he a bantam or standard cochin? If he is a bantam, he probably has a hard time reaching the ladies. If he is standard, maybe he is just a late bloomer. I would give him some time but if you want fertile eggs and he isn't getting the job done, you should probably just get a new rooster.

 

[Jake1297]

He is a Bantam, maybe he is too small for the ladies. So I guess I'll be getting a larger rooster.

 

[YYZ]

Do they pick on the rooster at all? the hens? just curious.

 

[Jake1297]

No pecking at the rooster. I do have guineas also and he'll chase after them.

 

[YYZ]

Guineas are great for tics ...and as long as you have no close neighbors. haha