Induce A rooster to breed in winter???

[Mattl12]

Simple any tricks to induce A rooster to "perform" regularly before spring???? A large chunk of my hens have cleared their first molt and I ordered an incubator. My RIR does not seem to be "Performing" with anywhere near his spring-to-summer frequency and I'd rather start the replacement cycle sooner rather than later. Do I need to run A light in the coop 24/7???? I assume many of you know more than I do on this so your thoughts???

 

[SilverBirds]

Roosters will breed the hens all year long, multiple times a day. How old is your rooster? Have you checked the eggs to see if they're fertile?

 

[Mattl12]

A bit less than 2. He used to do it multiple times per day right in front of me, I think I've seen him do it 3X in the last month.

 

[SilverBirds]

Do you know how to tell if an egg is fertile when you crack it into a bowl?

 

[SmiYa0126]

My rooster only mates hens that are laying eggs. Are your hens laying?

 

[Mattl12]

My rooster only mates hens that are laying eggs. Are your hens laying?

Several just not as frequently as in summer. Several of them recently finished their molt.

 

[Mattl12]

Do you know how to tell if an egg is fertile when you crack it into a bowl?

Dark spot in the yolk. Cracked 3 earlier today didn't see one, though admittedly I knew 1 would be unlikely to be fertilized. That hen is separated from the roosters..