Too Early for Feb Hatch-A-Long Thread??

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Guess what guys, not a single egg from my flock is fertile

The person who I got him from said before they sold him to me that he was definitely fertile and that the reason I’m not getting any fertile eggs is because it’s winter...

Personally I’ve never had an issue with fertility in winter and I know all my hens are 100% fertile themselves.

This new Male has been with the hens for almost 2 months now and still not a single fertile egg.

Maybe I’m missing something but I’m pretty sure I’d have at least one or two by now?

I’m starting to think he is infertile.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I'm joining late! Started mine this weekend and will be hatching at the end of the month.

Welcome! Glad to have you join us! What are you hatching? What incubator are you using?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Guess what guys, not a single egg from my flock is fertile

The person who I got him from said before they sold him to me that he was definitely fertile and that the reason I’m not getting any fertile eggs is because it’s winter...

Personally I’ve never had an issue with fertility in winter and I know all my hens are 100% fertile themselves.

This new Male has been with the hens for almost 2 months now and still not a single fertile egg.

Maybe I’m missing something but I’m pretty sure I’d have at least one or two by now?

I’m starting to think he is infertile.

Well that's a huge bummer! I hope it's just taking him a while to take action with the ladies since he's fairly new?

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Well that's a huge bummer! I hope it's just taking him a while to take action with the ladies since he's fairly new?

It is, there is still the eggs under the broody which I haven’t checked because it’s too soon but either he’s infertile or to old to do the job as quickly.

I don’t think 2 months is a normal time to get fertile eggs. My last males I always had one or two fertile within a week of putting them in.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

It is, there is still the eggs under the broody which I haven’t checked because it’s too soon but either he’s infertile or to old to do the job as quickly.

I don’t think 2 months is a normal time to get fertile eggs. My last males I always had one or two fertile within a week of putting them in.

Yeah, 2 months sounds like plenty of time. I was just being hopeful.

 

[Merrymouse]

I'm someone who throws all damaged eggs away just because of previous experience. There were two eggs I should've chucked and I kept wanting them to just survive.

Both chicks had SEVERE issues when born. One had bulging eyes and was blind in both eyes. The other had cleft eyelids and was blind in one eye. We had to euthanize the first one and the other one just couldn't thrive on its own and passed away.

I'll never hold onto an egg ever again. My chickens make far too many fertile ones for me to end up with an unhealthy chick again.

I hear ya Sometimes nature knows what its doing

 

[FortCluck]

I never turn eggs before incubating and store them in the fridge. I get good hatch rates on chickens. Never even heard about turning eggs before incubation until very recently.

Yeah I don't think it's necessary! And it's an added step that's annoying to me. I can never remember to do it anyways especially when I'm in a rush.

 

[FortCluck]

I hear ya Sometimes nature knows what its doing

I don't risk having bad eggs in my incubator. It's just not something I want to have to deal with later on.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Yeah, 2 months sounds like plenty of time. I was just being hopeful.

I know that, I need hope at the moment

You guys here is what keeps me sane half the time. I’m about to flip otherwise!

 

[Merrymouse]

I don't deworm, I haven't had a reason to yet for the past 2 years. My flock is very well maintained and cared for. Their very spoiled I have 2 roosters and 14 pullets/hens. They live on 7000 sq ft but I'm making it 9000 sq ft soon. They have half woods and half the yard for their run. Lots of bugs and berries. I feed Purina All Flock. I also feed their shells back to them, it creates the best shells I believe. I've used oyster shells and didn't see the shell quality I'm seeing now.

My birds are pretty much cared for the same as my dogs and cat. I even go outside and sit with them and talk to them

This is my prized possession. He's a Black Jersey Giant. He's the father of some of the chicks. I just love the way he looks and he's so massive.

View attachment 2023899

My coop backs up to woods and I would love to let them out there more. I would have to figure a way to keep them contained better. Ive considered one of those electric poultry fence but I have trees, rocks, stumps,saplings etc and I think it would constantly short out. Do you just let them out or do you contain them? Ive been trying to come up with something for a couple years and no solution yet. I want some kind of fencing to give them a little defense against predators. I mean there is so many trees so anything that can climb could climb a tree and get over the fence so that is why i've been stuck