[chongo]

I've had a buff Orpington rooster with my buff Orpington hens for a couple of months now. I've tried to incubate their eggs twice now but all are blank. They are free range but shut in a barn at night. Do you think it's the time if year causing a problem with fertility or is there something I could do to assist them?

[hughesy]

It's very likely the time of year. The short daylight hours affect fertility in cockerels as well as egg laying.

[chrismahon]

Hi Chongo. Well, there are four possibilities. Firstly that your Buff Orpington cock is sterile. Secondly the cock is inexperienced and his aim isn't good as there is no penetration, he simply shoots and the hen catches in her vent and by a series of muscle contractions moves the sperm into her oviduct and along to the top. Third, his aim is good but their fluffy bottoms are obstructing things. Breeders usually clip the feathers from around their hen's vent to allow free passage of the shot. Fourth, at this time of year with moulting and low daylight hours the fertility of the cockerel is questionable anyway. Sorry if this all sounds a bit crude, but it's difficult to be more subtle at this time of evening.


Don't know if 'milking' your cockerel and checking under a microscope is feasible, or taking a sample from the overshot on the hens. Obviously if he is sterile he can't be bred from. But it's the wrong time of year to reach that conclusion as I have said.


Clear the vents and check the fertility of the eggs before incubation. Do this by storing the eggs at room temperature for a few days (which allows the blastoderm to grow and be better visible) then crack onto a plate and examine. The blastoderm is a multiplication of cells vsible on the yolk surface as a pale ring about 3 mm diameter. Darkbrowneggs has a site with some great pictures.

[jaykay]

It's very late in the year and fertility declines. I'd try again in spring.

[Big Light]

Its probably Mother Nature saying wrong time of the year

- If you want to breed then use artificial light - but better to wait a few months as chicks and snow  - or whatever we are getting this year -  are not the best combination - unless you have lots of room inside

Also if trying to hatch at the "wrong time for nature" then it helps to up the protein in the feed, poultry breeders pellets with a few xtra percent protein is best

[the great composto]

Hi Chongo  - I have had the same problem with my buff rooster through last year - we have successfully hatched his eggs but in low numbers so we know he's not sterile.    I have tried to hatch 3 or 4 batches through last year and got nothing.  That may be partially due to an incubator problem which is now sorted.
I will be clipping the hens feathers next year because the breed has a reputation for low fertility due to the amount of tail feathers.
I would be trying to hatch at this time of the year because he is less active with the ladies anyway.
Good luck - the buffs are a lovely hen to keep but brooooooody or what!