old wives tales?

[slackwater]

I had an APA judge performing my NPIP testing this year, and he threw a couple of "theories" at me that I genuinely question - but since I honestly don't have any experiences that would give me reason to believe either way, I'd like feedback...

According to said judge, 1) roosters who get frostbitten combs/wattles will be PERMANENTLY infertile (not just infertile while they are recovering). Truth?

2) LF will grow "larger" if hatched over the winter, whereas bantams will stay small if hatched over the summer. Truth?

 

[Kaitie09]

can't tell you about #2, but we just hatched eggs from our rooster that lost all of his little points this winter from frostbite. Fertile eggs have decreased from him, but he is also 7 years old.

 

[OldGuy43]

I've known some pretty smart "old wives" but...

Remember, at one time everyone knew the Earth was flat.

 

[duckinnut]

Wouldn't hens with larger combs that get frostbite also become permanently sterile as well and not produce eggs? I know the stress takes its toll on birds due to the cold temperature rather than the actual frostbite. Temporally infertile,sure. Permanent, not so much. But I suppose it all depends on the actual rooster, his age and his general health overall could play a factor.

Like Old Guy said about 'old wives"..........
My little Italian grandmother was a wise depression era woman and had a thousand "wives tales" to live by. Some based in coincidental fact and most not a shred of evidence.......