Rooster issue! (No not attitude, fertility!)

[centrarchid]

Reads like he is a dead head. Check his weight first to make certain he is not running light. If so then look into health issues, especially related to parasites. I normally cull for that, but can still be salvaged.

Isolate him from hen(s) he is to be breed to for several days and feed him up allowing him to get additional exercise. Even let him see a strange hen or rooster to rile him up, but do not allow contact. Objective there is to get his testosterone up.

Then introduce hen to his pen. She needs to be in lay or coming into lay so you may have issues with her as well.

I am having all sorts of fun with a couple of my older American Dominique hens as I try to squeeze out a few more eggs late in the season. Those hens are also not willing when in continuous containment with rooster. They caged singly and given the best feed a little high in protein I can provide that is spiced up with fresh greens. They are not provided a diet with supplemental calcium as they do not lay enough to dump the calcium.

 

[Trish1974]

Isolate him from hen(s) he is to be breed to for several days and feed him up allowing him to get additional exercise. Even let him see a strange hen or rooster to rile him up, but do not allow contact. Objective there is to get his testosterone up.

Then introduce hen to his pen. She needs to be in lay or coming into lay so you may have issues with her as well

I think you may be on to something here... this comment sparked a memory. Last year when I was at the breeder's place I was eye-balling him (he wasn't for sale at the time) but he was in a pen with this hen. Then the next time I was at the breeder's (still eye-balling him) the hen was separated in a pen next to him. I just assumed they were separate due to upcoming shows, so the hen wouldn't pick out his tufts like some hens do. I will email the breeder and ask if she is how she bred them. Thank you!

 

[Mrs. K]

I would try centrachids advice. He gives very good advice. And it might just work to get some chicks. But do you want chicks from a questionable fertility issue?

But I think if that does not work, you have passed your window of chicks out of this rooster. If you are not getting fertilized eggs, you are not having a fertile rooster.

Mrs K

 

[centrarchid]

I would try centrachids advice. He gives very good advice. And it might just work to get some chicks. But do you want chicks from a questionable fertility issue?

But I think if that does not work, you have passed your window of chicks out of this rooster. If you are not getting fertilized eggs, you are not having a fertile rooster.

Mrs K

If all it is old age, then OK. If young, then remove from breeding program.

 

[Trish1974]

If all it is old age, then OK. If young, then remove from breeding program.

Is 3 1/2 "old" for male fertility?

 

[centrarchid]

Is 3 1/2 "old" for male fertility?

It is not for breeds I work with currently. If he is all you have, then breed him then work on selecting for offspring with better fertility. That may require a introduction of new blood that can temporarily reduce show quality. I had to do that with my American Dominiques as the show stock roosters were not tough enough for my setting.

 

[Trish1974]

Update: The breeder I purchased my birds from did say separating them to "stimulate" Blue could work, but she suggested I take my "super fertile pair" (I have a triple tufted birchen cock with a clean faced BBR hen. These two have 100% fertility without vent trimming!), and swap partners. Then I can conclude who the fertility problem truly lies with. BUT, I do have 6 CONFIRMED fertile eggs from the blue pair - 3 in the incubator, and 3 under a broody hen. If I get a clone of Blue Boy out of one of these eggs, I will just carry on with that male next year. If not, I will try the partner swap late winter as its getting too late to hatch anymore chicks this year.

As for him not mating the clean faced hen... I just spent a good hour watching them and I see where he does "ask" her to mate by wing dancing and hovering over her, but she will not allow him. So the hen is the one rejecting him.