How to get and collect semen!

[Christina.Rich]

help! I just can’t seem to successfully artificially inseminate my Cochins! This is my first time with AI. When I flip my rooster over and attempt to receive seamen, nothing happens! I try to stimulate but nothing happens!

Anyone have any tricks or advice?!

 

[Redhead Rae]

help! I just can’t seem to successfully artificially inseminate my Cochins! This is my first time with AI. When I flip my rooster over and attempt to receive seamen, nothing happens! I try to stimulate but nothing happens!

Anyone have any tricks or advice?!

Have you tried clipping their butt fluff to make natural "connection" easier? It requires trimming below the vent on the rooster and above the vent on the girls.

 

[Christina.Rich]

I honest did consider that, but I did want to show them early this year so I wanted to avoid it if at all possible. How long does it take for them to grow back, and where is the best place trim them around the vent?

 

[Abriana]

I'd just clip their rear end feathers as Redhead Rae said and let them do it naturally. I hatch quite a bit and I don't usually have any fertility problems. Before you hatch you can open a few eggs to see if they are fertilized, and you can also just sit and observe and get an idea of how much he is mating. A rule of thumb is one rooster to ten hens.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Mike Rowe actually did a bit on AI for commercial turkeys on Dirty Jobs, perhaps review that clip for pointers as the farm owners did give him a good "how to" as part of the episode.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I honest did consider that, but I did want to show them early this year so I wanted to avoid it if at all possible. How long does it take for them to grow back, and where is the best place trim them around the vent?

It will take until their next molt to grow back. If you want to show them, clip after you are done showing for the year.

 

[sourland]

Rather than clipping try plucking vent feathers. That way there is no irritating stubble and feathers will regrow more quickly.

 

[Cheyenne97]

I would stop doing AI. Lol obviously it’s not working, most likely because it’s not done properly or with the right equipment. Let the rooster and hens mate naturally.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I would stop doing AI. Lol obviously it’s not working, most likely because it’s not done properly or with the right equipment. Let the rooster and hens mate naturally.

While this may seem like the obvious answer, it is actually not uncommon for breeds with heavier "but fluff" to have difficulties with natural mating. That is what the OP has encountered with their flock already. The OP is employing AI because natural mating is not working and because they are hesitant to use sanitary clipping or plucking as these birds are intended to be used for showing and removal of the fluff would be detrimental to showing.

 

[WVduckchick]

I think @Pyxis is (or was?) working on this. Maybe she can help.