Why did my roosters stop mating with one of the hens

[simonerol]

All my chickens are about 3 years old now, I have tested my hens eggs for the past 2 month and none of them are fertile, they were consistently fertile last year, she has gained weight and may be older than the other hens but she is laying consistently, I bought them as adults, so I may have been lied to. I have 3 roosters and seven hens.

 

[tec27]

im assuming you're looking at them correct. if she's still laying then her eggs should be fertile. unless he's not breeding with her which does happen. my one rooster refused to breed with one of my top hens for some reason. with 3 roosters though, it would seem like all your hens should be laying fertile eggs.

 

[simonerol]

Thank you, I believe she is the most bossy hen.

 

[CrazyHatchingLady]

I have 4 leghorns, 7 EE 3 Buff and 4 RIR that all used to get mated by my rooster but it seems lately he is not mating with my leghorns. All summer almost all of my eggs where fertile except a few here and there. Now it seems I can't get a fertile leghorn to save my life. The leghorns are not top dogs in the coop so I can not figure out what is going on.

 

[simonerol]

I am not having any luck with some of mine, seems it's the season for the roosters to be lazy as not all hens of the flock are laying

 

[lazy gardener]

My avatar roo misses the mark more than he hits it now. He's almost 4. Some hens will fall out of favor for breeding. It may be that they are molting, about to molt, or perhaps there is some other subtle difference that the roo picks up on. Perhaps, though she's still laying, her eggs are not viable, even if fertilized. The roo is going to expend his genetic material where it will produce the most favorable results.

 

[simplify]

I have 4 leghorns, 7 EE 3 Buff and 4 RIR that all used to get mated by my rooster but it seems lately he is not mating with my leghorns. All summer almost all of my eggs where fertile except a few here and there. Now it seems I can't get a fertile leghorn to save my life. The leghorns are not top dogs in the coop so I can not figure out what is going on.[/QUOTE

I recently read a post on the internet from a chicken breeder that said breeding drops during the winter months like egg production drops. It makes sense to me. My roo has his fav hens right now but most of the hens (19) are not bothered and I know that at least 12 of them are laying right now. However he is only 10 most old and still learning to be the main roo.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

All my chickens are about 3 years old now, I have tested my hens eggs for the past 2 month and none of them are fertile, they were consistently fertile last year.... I have 3 roosters and seven hens.

im assuming you're looking at them correct. if she's still laying then her eggs should be fertile. unless he's not breeding with her which does happen. my one rooster refused to breed with one of my top hens for some reason. with 3 roosters though, it would seem like all your hens should be laying fertile eggs.

It is very possible that you have too many roosters or not enough hens and that sexual jealousy is preventing good fertility. Remove two of the roosters and only allow the youngest, most vigorous, and fit one to remain with your hens. every 2 weeks swap roosters.

Then at this time of year no poultry is ever 100%, that usually only happens (100%) during the natural and normal breeding season. I also bet that you don't use supplemental Sunlight. Length of day is as important to the sperm production of a rooster as it is to the egg production success of your hens.