HI All
Not sure if this is the right section -so Moderators , please feel free to move.
I have a 14 month old Rooster in a pen with 5 hens (14 months)
I started with 9/20 fertile eggs first batch, then 5/20, now 2/20.
They are on organic layer mash
they have access to fresh water
They also free range in the grass 2-3 times per week - the rest of the time they are in their pen.
The girls use to have raw backs from the rooster doing his thing.
Now the backs are not irritated at all.
They were treated for lice and mites in the spring.
I have put up a tarp seperating the neiboring pen so that he won't be distracted by the other roo.
I have also made the outdoor pen smaller so he won't have such a hard time chasing the girls.
I am going to seperate him for a few days and see if that makes them more interested.
I also noticed that his vent is very red - I'm going to look into that this evening (two person job) - so perhaps it's sore and he doesn't want to "perform" because it is uncomfortable.
Any thoughts on what could be causing fertility issues??
Thanks and sorry for the lng post.
Not sure if this is the right section -so Moderators , please feel free to move.
I have a 14 month old Rooster in a pen with 5 hens (14 months)
I started with 9/20 fertile eggs first batch, then 5/20, now 2/20.
They are on organic layer mash
they have access to fresh water
They also free range in the grass 2-3 times per week - the rest of the time they are in their pen.
The girls use to have raw backs from the rooster doing his thing.
Now the backs are not irritated at all.
They were treated for lice and mites in the spring.
I have put up a tarp seperating the neiboring pen so that he won't be distracted by the other roo.
I have also made the outdoor pen smaller so he won't have such a hard time chasing the girls.
I am going to seperate him for a few days and see if that makes them more interested.
I also noticed that his vent is very red - I'm going to look into that this evening (two person job) - so perhaps it's sore and he doesn't want to "perform" because it is uncomfortable.
Any thoughts on what could be causing fertility issues??
Thanks and sorry for the lng post.