Just my luck... fertility issues

[DawnSuiter]

Well.. I had 2 families of chickens for my gold lace project and while this weekend I am expecting 13 little fuzzies from one family, candling results of family 2 are NOT GOOD. Out of 15 there is maybe 2 that seem to be developing

This is a major disappointment to me as it's taken almost a full year to get here and he's really a lovely rooster. I've already switched everyone from these groups into their long term situation. I read not long ago about rose comb roosters having fertility issues and desperately wished I had one of the good ones, but it appears I do not.

I'm not sure where to proceed from here. It's only day 9 and I didn't remove any of the eggs, but they just don't look anything like I'd expect, but I still say I am NO expert, it's worth waiting a few more days to see if there is a change.

I do have 1 male from a different father than those that are hatching this weekend, but that is surely not a proper start to my project. Do you think that I should just give it up... it feels like I should. I do not want to make a half hearted effort that's for sure.

Would it be worth it to proceed and then trade eggs with someone else working on the same project with the next generation?

 

[Kev]

It's only the roosters pure for rose comb that have the fertility issue. The main problem is the sperm just don't live that long in those roosters.

One solution is to pair breed them.. one roo one hen, and he should be breeding the hen frequently enough so enough sperm live to reach her yolks. It can appear even for pure rose combs seemingly to have almost normal fertility this way. But the problem becomes very obvious if the rooster is in with several hens.. especially if he favors one or two hens.. the other hens get bred so infrequently and combined with the shorter sperm life, the fertility can reach almost zero for those not so favored hens.

Roosters with only one rose comb gene have normal fertility, even with multiple hens. So unless there is something else involved, it could be a case of a pure rose comb vs not pure rose comb.

If rooster 2 has been with only one hen.. not sure what it could be.. check vents for mites or maybe something like too much fluff- some roosters are unable to breed well if he or the hens have too much fluff around the vents. I had a problem with a silkie rooster seeming to have low fertility.. until I noticed he was going thru the motions but didn't look quite right.. so trimmed vents on him and the hens, suddenly fertility was normal- and vent trimming was not necessary even after the fluff grew out again.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Thank you for the tips there, he only had 2 girls but they are the fluffiest for sure and I suppose I should've considered that. Unfortunately, they are not together anymore so unless I want to upset the balance again and put them back together, I have no chance at getting any more.

He's not a very dominant rooster, nor is he as interested in mating as say my other ones are, which is why it took an extra few weeks to even be sure they WERE mating! I had hoped to hatch these eggs April 1st but here it is mid June.

I read recently that "a setback was simply an opportunity to review your goals and perhaps choose differently" so I guess that's what I'm doing... reviewing my choices.

thanks again for the support

 

[Kev]

I'd try either vent trimming all or putting hen with naturally low vent fluff(I've used turken hens to teach cockerels how to mate properly before too). Roosters normally are very excited at meeting new hens. Making lots of noises, wing/foot stomping etc and often leads to the rooster getting excited enough to try mating asap. Best to introduce hens to him than the other way around too, since he is not very dominant. One trick I also use is to have an isolated hen(s) with no roosters and been laying already, especially those that are 'very squatty'.. those usually are easiest to introduce to not very dominant roosters.

May consider artificial insemination? It's also a not uncommon practice amongst folks who have certain "show stock", especially those with very rounded/fluffy vents or various body shapes that don't always necessarily make for "a good mating every time.."

 

[Mahonri]

Maybe his boys don't swim?

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:

Well.. I'll soon find out. I'll start cracking eggs today from both his new pen and from the ladies he used to be with to see if the new guy is any better, or if they are truly too fluffy.

Today chicks from the first GLO family started hatching. Later tonight I'll candle the eggs again from the 2nd family, the eggs in question and see if there has been any change

that I'm just still a newbie and didn't see what I was supposed to because of that.. and tonight.. I will have a few little chicks clearly developing...