Rooster with no tail feathers - fertility?

[Ohioann]

I have a two year old Buckeye rooster in a pen with about 8 hens, one of which is a Buckeye. The hens have pulled all and I mean ALL of his tail feathers out. I have tried to incubate the eggs from the Buckeye hen but keep getting clears. Could the lack of tail feathers or the fact that the hens seem to dominate affect his fertility? We have never seen him breed a hen but we aren't watching full time, just during chores. Comments would be welcome. Ann

 

[sourland]

If I really wanted Buckeye chicks, I would move him and the Buckeye hen to a separate pen and pluck vent feathers from both of them to improve his chances of hitting the mark.

 

[Ohioann]

Thanks for that information! Will give it a try.