Has anyone ever had this problem before and been able to resolve it?
My current flock consists of 5 hens (1-3 years old) and 1 rooster (2 years old). I have been trying to hatch eggs all spring with no luck at all. One of the oldest hens, my Speckled Sussex, finally started laying again a couple of weeks ago, and her eggs are the only ones in my incubator currently showing fertility/development. She is also the only hen I have witnessed the rooster mating with recently, though I do see him occasionally dance for the others.
He is a great rooster. He is watchful of predators and successfully gets his flock under cover when my resident hawk is visiting. He calls them for treats and is in all ways a benevolent flock leader. He has never offered me so much as an aggressive glance. He isn't overbreeding or abusing the Speckled Sussex hen at all.
So...Is this just the way things are going to be? I do have a young cockerel I'm raising this spring, meaning I have a potential replacement waiting in the wings. But I'm just curious as to whether anyone else has had this particular issue and, if so, whether the situation ever improved.
My current flock consists of 5 hens (1-3 years old) and 1 rooster (2 years old). I have been trying to hatch eggs all spring with no luck at all. One of the oldest hens, my Speckled Sussex, finally started laying again a couple of weeks ago, and her eggs are the only ones in my incubator currently showing fertility/development. She is also the only hen I have witnessed the rooster mating with recently, though I do see him occasionally dance for the others.
He is a great rooster. He is watchful of predators and successfully gets his flock under cover when my resident hawk is visiting. He calls them for treats and is in all ways a benevolent flock leader. He has never offered me so much as an aggressive glance. He isn't overbreeding or abusing the Speckled Sussex hen at all.
So...Is this just the way things are going to be? I do have a young cockerel I'm raising this spring, meaning I have a potential replacement waiting in the wings. But I'm just curious as to whether anyone else has had this particular issue and, if so, whether the situation ever improved.