What are odds? Cockerel fertile at age 17 weeks - and successful?

[CarolJ]

My beautiful 17-week old wheaton Araucana cockerel was killed by a hawk on Sunday. My husband saw the hawk and ran out - but it was too late. Casper had faced down the hawk allowing the hens and pullets to run to safety. Even my husband shed a tear or two because it was so much fun watching Casper strut around like he was such hot stuff.

My question: For the week prior to his death, Casper had started crowing and mounting several of my older hens. I've saved all the eggs they laid Sunday, yesterday and today - and thought that I would take a chance at hatching some just in case Casper was fertile and successful in his mating attempts. I don't want to open an egg to check for fertility because if it is - that would be one less possible chick. And there are no other roos in that flock.

So what are the odds that I might possibly get some chicks? Am I wasting my time, or is it worth giving incubation a try?

P.S. On Sunday afternoon, hubby stared building an enormous covered run for the chickens. And I've made a down payment on an LGD that'll be old enough to leave home in February.

 

[nunlef]

I would also like to know. I have 2 hens laying now, and was hoping to put my 16 week old Ameraucana cockeral in with them after Christmas (he would be about 18weeks then). I know his female hatchmatches don't seem to be close to laying, but I haven't been able to find anything about the male maturation rate.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

I had some serama that i hatched earlier in the spring and by 4 months they were fertile and already goin broody, hatched all the eggs laid so maybe you'll get lucky too!

 

[Loretta212]

i have a dozen eggs in my incubator right now from 20 week old roos and older hens they are fertile so maybe there is a chance al you can do is try

 

[gryeyes]

I could be wrong, but if a cockerel is mounting successfully (makes the connection), he's good to go in the fertility department.

And if it was my flock, and I wanted to duplicate a lost roo/cockerel - so to speak - I would set those eggs. You have nothing to lose but some eating eggs and you may very well get some chicks!

 

[joneus]

Quote:
X2. Whats the worst that could happen?

Good luck! I'm so sorry you lost your boy!

 

[CarolJ]

THanks for the replies. You are right - there is nothing to lose except a dozen or so eggs. I will set the eggs. If any chicks develop, it'll be an interesting combination. None of my araucana pullets are laying yet. So it would be Casper, the wheaton cockerel, over a jersey giant, NHR, an ancona and assorted EEs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It would mean so much to me to have some chicks from Casper.