Rooster fertility

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Hi
I have a buckeye roo that was hatched last May. I'm wondering at what age he would become fertile. My hens are starting to lay again and am wondering if I can go ahead and incubate or if it'd just be a waste of good eggs.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...Crack an egg and look for a bullseye in the yolk...

 

[Ridgerunner]

Check out this thread, it shows you what to look for. If most of the eggs you crack have the bull's eye most of the ones you don't crack should too.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

At that age I'd expect the eggs to be fertile.

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed. You won't get your answer until you check for the blastodisc/derm. Do a thread search for "fertile egg photos" and you'll get plenty of examples for comparison. My BE cockerel hatched in April is doing well, in spite of the fact that my Alpha roo tries to keep all the gals to himself. Unfortunately, the Alpha guy has not hit a home run in months.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

After seeing that you are in Alberta Canada, if a rooster has a frost injured comb his fertility will be negatively affected until his comb is fully healed. Also any perfectly fertile egg that has been chilled to plus 40 degrees Fahrenheit will not hatch even though the rooster, the hens, and you did their part. You should also transition to a breeder type chicken feed and that only at least 6 and preferably 8 weeks before you start saving hatching eggs. Not only will this mean more chicks hatched but a flock type breeder feed will also result in fewer dead chicks after hatching. This is true when feeding both sexes.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...Call me today if your not busy?..
I'm around most of the Day...

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

No bullseyes

 

[Ridgerunner]

No bullseyes