Non-fertile eggs?

[chickenannie1]

I have a rooster in with 3 hens. I was incubated many eggs and hatched 11 of them, but now none of the eggs I am getting are fertile. Could there be a reason that my rooster is no longer fertilizing the eggs? The hens lay 2 eggs a day but haven't had a fertile egg in a month. Very confused here. Any thoughts?

 

[berniezahm]

How cold are your eggs getting before they are collected? Wisconsin is pretty cold this time of year, or so I've heard.

 

[chickenannie1]

We check twice a day. Morning and evening. And yes it does get way to cold here for my liking? Most of the time we find them under one of the hens. There have been times, yes they are cold when we find them, but some of those have even hatched out chicks. None we have placed in month have done anything, they are just yolk.

 

[Baggagolers]

Is the rooster getting old?

 

[MamaMarcy]

Are you checking for fertility by cracking any eggs and looking for a bullseye, or just based on no growth in the incubator?

 

[justin24]

time for a yong roo

 

[chickenannie1]

I am not sure how old the roo is. I bought the group last summer at an auction and I guess I assumed the roo was young because the hens weren't even laying yet. They just started laying in November. Maybe he is older. Thanks everyone, never thought that!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Roosters are not particularly robust in the low light of winter. Their sperm count goes way down. They too need the light that spring brings.
Just because the females were young doesn't mean the rooster was, when you bought the birds at auction. In my experience, a rooster stays viable and active well beyond 4 years.
Also agree with spot checking and verifying fertility before incubating a batch.