Why would the fertility rate be so low?

[R2elk]

Hi Trefoil,
I need some advice. I have a flock of 14 one year-old guineas, pretty evenly divided between cocks and hens. I incubated 20 eggs a few months ago and got only three keets. Since then, I've checked fertility as I've used the eggs, and it's very low; I haven't kept an exact count, but I'd guess 10% or less. The guineas free-range everyday. All day if I'm in the mood for an egg hunt, only in the afternoon if I want to make sure I have eggs.
I read that you use vionate and I'd like to give it a try. Please post how you administer it. Seems like if I just sprinkle it on their food, it will end up in the bottom of the feeder. Dosage would also be appreciated, as well as any other tips you might have for getting the fertility rate up.
Thanks so much for your previous posts.
Dawn

You have responded to a post that was made Nov. 16, 2012. Trefoil has not posted since May 8, 2015 and has not visited BYC for 3 weeks. If you want a response from Trefoil, it would be best for you to send him a PM since most people get an email notifying them that they have received a PM.

Good luck.

 

[Trefoil]

Sorry about that. I had pneumonia and still haven't caught up enough to be posting. Aside from diet, the only reason for low fertility I can think of is their age, but if they have been laying for a while that shouldn't be a problem. Could they be under a lot of stress, that may do it. Vionate- first of all, I feed fermented so its easy for me to add the vionate either to the ferment or after, just before feeding along with calf manna and brewers' yeast. I add a teaspoon of vionate for every 6 birds, just because. If you are feeding crumbles- just sprinkle it on top. I think it tastes good to them so they shouldn't leave it in the bowl. Circumstances are such for me that I haven't incubated any yet, but last year on my own eggs I got an excellent hatch rate. If you were saying hatch rate instead of fertility, I would be sure it was the incubator or egg handling, but fertility, I don't know. I know peacocks sometimes get so into fighting their rivals and showing off they forget about breeding, but my guineas never have. If you consistently feed the same food, I would try giving something different, just because I don''t know what else to blame. Good luck, I hope you figure it out.

 

[Cross Creek]

Thanks for your help, I'll give vionate a try. Hope you feel better soon.
All best,
Dawn

 

[Cross Creek]

I forgot to ask how often you give the vionate.

 

[Trefoil]

I give it 2 or 3 times a week, if I were having any problems I would give it every day for a week and then check & see if fertility increases. Are you feeding gamebird to them? Guineas require more protein than chickens and that really affects fertility.