Is it possible I have a sterile rooster?

bearz

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I'm working on my 2nd hatch. First was 100% dud. I have 2 sets of hens/roosters, each in their own cages. My broody hen hatched a chick so I know those 2 are OK, but I just candled eggs on day 8 from the other set and I can't find one good egg.

Wondering if my other rooster is a dud?
 
He should change to boxers, not breifs!

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Rooster and Hen both 1 year old. First summer laying. Redish brown chickens...I have no idea...inherited from my motherinlaw when she died of cancer and never told me what they were. I'm just lucky I can tell a hen from a rooster! LOL
 
Our previous rooster was infertile or almost infertile. Of two full incubators and three tries of my broody hens I had 1 chicken that died a few hours after hatch.

My current rooster is defenitely fertile with 11 hatching chicks out of 13 fertile in my latest hatch. All eggs from one hen was dud's though.

I don't think she is infertile but she doesn't like the rooster and even if he try to do his job most of his sperm ends up on her back in stead of in the correct area.

I also have to cut the duns and feathers around the genitals on my standard cochins. If I didn't there wouldn't be any fertilized eggs at all.

Observe them a bit and see if they get it right. You might need to help nature a bit.
 
If your hen is very fluffy in the vent area you may need to turn up her rear end and do a nice trim so that your rooster can do his job. Too much fluff can get in the way and cause what appears to be an infertility problem.
 
Have you ever cracked one of the eggs and seen the "bullseye" that tells you the egg is fertile? There is a great post with pictures that shows what it looks like. You could use the Search function to find it. Search fertile egg, and the Author was Speckledhen.
 
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Oh joy. I'm SO looking forward to explaining the need for this to my 8 yr old!
 

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