The Wyandotte Thread

[Duramaxgirl]

A question for everyone. Does heat significantly impact fertility?

The temps in my area have been no lower then 90 degrees F and have reached heat indexes of 110 F many days. Today has FINALLY cooled a tad after over 2 weeks but it is still in the upper 80s just lower humidity, for now... Egg production has been very low in my silvers but pretty good with my Partridges. Everyone has automatic waterers, special feed (oil sun flower seed, layer crumble, wild bird seed, cayenne pepper, red pepper, oyster shell, and garlic), shade, and I check on them several times a day to be sure they are not over heating and i also give them grass and treats when i have them. Obviously they are panting because of the extreme heat. I litlerly poor sweat just standing outside for a few minutes. Even my laying flock has pretty much stopped laying.

Is the heat causing the cocks sperm to "go sour"/ become useless?

It has definitely been a frustrating year for hatching... I have only gotten 3 SLW to hatch (I started the beginning of June)

. Thankfully I have gotten some partridge but still disappointed about such a low hatch rate of the silvers.

Is anyone else having problems?

Thanks in advance for the information.

I do think heat does affect fertility in chickens. But I think that the SLW fertility problem is deeper then just heat related. The best fertility I had with my SLW was 30% and that was in mild summer weather. I started hatching as early as January here in 2012. Of course my first few hatches produced 0 chicks! Although I was having good hatches in my BLRW. I had the best hatches from my SLW in March-May and then it tapered down to 0 chicks again by July and August and I quit trying to hatch after that. I have a new Rooster this year and am hoping he has better fertility then my last roosters. Good luck!!

 

[The Mother Hen]

My sister's Wyandotte pullet at 6 1/2 months. I hope she looks alright because the photo isn't the best.

 

[jerryse]

A question for everyone. Does heat significantly impact fertility?

The temps in my area have been no lower then 90 degrees F and have reached heat indexes of 110 F many days. Today has FINALLY cooled a tad after over 2 weeks but it is still in the upper 80s just lower humidity, for now... Egg production has been very low in my silvers but pretty good with my Partridges. Everyone has automatic waterers, special feed (oil sun flower seed, layer crumble, wild bird seed, cayenne pepper, red pepper, oyster shell, and garlic), shade, and I check on them several times a day to be sure they are not over heating and i also give them grass and treats when i have them. Obviously they are panting because of the extreme heat. I litlerly poor sweat just standing outside for a few minutes. Even my laying flock has pretty much stopped laying.

Is the heat causing the cocks sperm to "go sour"/ become useless?

It has definitely been a frustrating year for hatching... I have only gotten 3 SLW to hatch (I started the beginning of June)

. Thankfully I have gotten some partridge but still disappointed about such a low hatch rate of the silvers.

Is anyone else having problems?

Thanks in advance for the information.

I am also having problems.I bought a trio of silver penciled in early may.No fertility yet.Trimmed vent feathers on both sexes and still no fertility.I was not aware that this breed sometimes has fertility issues.So I would say it is more than the heat.Yes heat can cause problems.Males are less active and will confine their efforts to the cooler parts of the day.Yes it can be too hot for sex.Some animals like rabbits the males will go sterile for awhile in hot weather.Never heard of it in chickens but I guess it could happen.Myself I put the hens in with a silver ameraucana rooster for some colorful easter eggers.Setting the first ones today.I have the SP rooster over a couple of EE hens and setting these also.Testing his fertility.Hope to put him back with the SP hens when his fertility returns.

 

[ki4got]

Hey, I have a few Silver laced wyandottes and Im hatching out some silver pencilled in 2 weeks, just curious what I could get if I crossed them together?

best answer I can give you is 'nothing very usable'... basically you'll get birds with poor lacing.

the genetics behind lacing is pattern gene, melanizing gene and Columbian. partridge just have the pattern gene but not the others. the ONLY reason i'd do this, is if one has top notch type and the other needs improvement, but you're looking at several generations to get back to one or the other pure strain from the crossed chicks.

 

[delisha]

For those with fertility problems..

Invest in a microscope. You can purchase a used student medical one for pretty reasonable. You will make your money back the first time you use it. Checking for mobility in semen and checking for semen in the sample is pretty easy. It will let you know if your problem is in the males or if it is in your females. You can also check for worms and cocci with your investment.

Yes, summer is horrible for chickens. They slow down all the way around. Egg production and sperm production. They need those reserves to keep alive and cool.
Feed can also be an issue. Layer for rooster can make those sperm cells lack vigor and mobility. Hen can be fat and have fertility problems in the oviduct.
Health and pox is a big one for infertility in males and females. If you live in an environment with mosquitoes you might have pox in your flock.
Buckland and Hawes did infertility testing in 1968. They tried to correlate comb differences and semen counts. It is prettying interesting.

http://www.rosecomb.com/federation/articles/infertility.html

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Poultry-Farming-3481/Chicken-fertility.htm

http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...productive_system/infertility_in_poultry.html

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I bought 3 SLW (I think are pullets) but very young. To breed with my 2 GLW cockerels. Have to get read of 3 of them. 5 is too many. Mine cockerels are very very aggressive birds. lol

 

[kabhyper1]

Opinions on him please.

5 months old.

 

[Bleenie]

His tail looks really high and closed/pinched. His comb should be smooth and come to a clean, single point and be closer to his head at the tip. his body should be more round, should look like a half circle from his breast to his booty. He looks kinda tall too. His legs are a nice yellow and it looks like he might have a decent head/face(beside the comb).

Opinions on him please.

5 months old.

 

[kabhyper1]

Thanks! He is hatchery q but I think he is cute.

His tail looks really high and closed/pinched. His comb should be smooth and come to a clean, single point and be closer to his head at the tip. his body should be more round, should look like a half circle from his breast to his booty. He looks kinda tall too. His legs are a nice yellow and it looks like he might have a decent head/face(beside the comb).

 

[Bleenie]

My first Wyandottes were hatchery and a breeder reject roo, i absolutely loved them, even if they weren't correct! my roo looked a lot like yours, long tail and lumpy comb with ugly pasty legs, lol. But they're were soo sweet, they're the reason why I still have and love my 'Dottes!

Been a while since I was on so I was just heading out to get some new pictures of my girls & roo.