Giving the roo a well deserved rest.

[chixmix]

Is there a best way to separate your Roo from his hens so he can get a rest as to not stress out the hens too much? I just had to toss 5 eggs out of 16 for infertility. He has been 100% up til now.

 

[otis7]

I used to take my rooster inside sometimes when he was being a jerk as a "time out." (mostly just for fun, poor fella). He hated being away from his girls and would crow and crow, the girls could care less and went about their business. I think more often than not it's the hens that need a rest . Is he getting older?

 

[chixmix]

No, he is just super vigor and constantly "on it" haha. Shooting a few blanks now. I just want him to have a break to build back up the protein and nutrients needed. He's around 1 year old now and never has taken a break since maturing. He's only with 3 hens, so I know he is depositing.

 

[aart]

How did you determine that 5 out of 16 eggs were infertile?

 

[chixmix]

At day ten of incubating, I candled, and removed 6 eggs. I always open eggs I remove from an incubator to see what went wrong, 5 didn't have the bullseye, one did.

 

[aart]

Gotcha. Interesting to see if the rest will work.
He'll probably be more upset than the hens.

 

[keesmom]

Are you using any supplemental lighting? A long time breeder/judge told me that he adds lighting this time of year to improve fertility. I haven't tested it out myself yet but in years past I have noticed that fertility this time of year is a lot lower than in the spring.

 

[chixmix]

Are you using any supplemental lighting? A long time breeder/judge told me that he adds lighting this time of year to improve fertility. I haven't tested it out myself yet but in years past I have noticed that fertility this time of year is a lot lower than in the spring.

Yes, I let all my hens finish moulting, waited a couple weeks, then added lighting.

 

[keesmom]

Oh well, so much for that idea. I have been reading the Heritage Breeds thread and there are some that are also having fertility issues so I guess you aren't alone.

 

[Chickens R Us]

I read somewhere that fertility is usually less in the winter, but I can't remember if it was because of cold or less light.

I'll have to see if I can find the magazine.