Is this egg fertile?

[Johnchickens2]

Seramas. I am concerned because I have seen the male trying to mate her but he doesnt 'touch the spot', he is not very good at balancing. The matings I saw were not successful. This is an egg from today....

Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does not look like it to me. A spot but no ring.

 

[Johnchickens2]

Does not look like it to me. A spot but no ring.

Thank you! Well, is there anything I can do now? Give the male more treats, maybe?

 

[Sic]

Doesn't appear to be fertilized. If the male is young and/or inexperienced he might improve on his mating prowess in time. If fertility is the issue, you can add spirulina to food/water to improve fertility of both hen and roo.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It has nothing to do with treats. How old are they, the male and the females? How long have the girls been laying? If they are still juveniles they may have a learning curve to go through. Being patient may be the best approach.

I hesitate to say more until I know how old they are.

 

[Johnchickens2]

It has nothing to do with treats. How old are they, the male and the females? How long have the girls been laying? If they are still juveniles they may have a learning curve to go through. Being patient may be the best approach.

I hesitate to say more until I know how old they are.

The male is 1.5 years old, female is 2 years old. Last year she hatched eggs and they were all fertile, but that was with another male which I had to sell because he was attacking the kids.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks that is useful information and greatly reduces my typing. That is a rooster, not a juvenile.

For a successful mating he needs to be able to stand on her when she squats, grab the back of her head (her signal to raise her tail up out of the way to give a clear target), and touch vents. Can you better describe what you see as unsuccessful about this mating? It sounds like he is trying but something is going wrong. Is the hen resisting or can he just not do it?

I don't know how thick Seramas feathers are. Some breeders of thick feathered breeds like cochin or orpington have to trim the vent feathers to get them out of the way of the rooster hitting the target. Certainly not all of them, but some.

Was that just one egg or have you had others also not fertile? One incident does not a trend make. If this is just one trial I'd check some others.

You did not say that this hen hatched her own eggs last year?

I've run out of ideas. Some are just not fertile. You may need to replace him.

Good luck!

 

[Johnchickens2]

Thanks that is useful information and greatly reduces my typing. That is a rooster, not a juvenile.

For a successful mating he needs to be able to stand in her when she squats, grab the back of her head (her signal to raise her tail up out of the way to give a clear target), and touch vents. Can you better describe what you see as unsuccessful about this mating? It sounds like he is trying but something is going wrong. Is the hen resisting or can he just not do it?

I don't know how thick Seramas feathers are. Some breeders of thick feathered breeds like cochin or orpington have to trim the vent feathers to get them out of the way of the rooster hitting the target. Certainly not all of them, but some.

Was that just one egg or have you had others also not fertile? One incident does not a trend make. If this is just one trial I'd check some others.

You did not say that this hen hatched her own eggs last year?

I've run out of ideas. Some are just not fertile. You may need to replace him.

Good luck!

Thank you! Well, i have noticed that most of the time, he loses balance and falls. Or, he tries and tries with his tail and something doesnt work becsuse he doesnt get off the hen himself, just keeps moving his tail down to try again...

His comb is bright red, it means he is eating well and healthy, right?

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are the same breed so sized are compatible. I do not have any explanation why he can't manage. He is obviously trying.

 

[Johnchickens2]

They are the same breed so sized are compatible. I do not have any explanation why he can't manage. He is obviously trying.

I can't bring another male because I have 5 hens only. I really don't know what to do....