cockerel too old?

[chickenfan]

I have a 4 year old trio of sablepoots. Just one egg has hatched out of 20. Fortunately, I have another chick to keep it company, but I wonder if the cockerel might be a bit too old, or whether it is perhaps too early in the year? Most of the eggs candled fertile but didn't get out of their eggs. The one that did hatch is lively, but its legs are too far apart and seem to be getting further apart after a couple of days even though it is on a non-slip surface.

 

[KittyKat]

I wouldn't think it's too early in the year as I had good hatch rates from some eggs that I set about 7-8 weeks ago… maybe someone else can comment on the age.

Were the chicks fully formed and just failed to hatch? Have you bred from this trio before?

 

[MrsBiscuit]

The cockeral is probably losing his fertility by now You could try one more mating in case it was environmental factors causing the low hatch rate.

 

[chickenfan]

Chicks fully formed and I could hear them tapping, but not strong enough to get out.

 

[KittyKat]

If the chicks are fully developed, it's not fertility because the eggs are fertile. It can be genetic, something wrong with the eggs or most likely something not quite perfect about temperature/humidity.

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you Kat

 

[chrismahon]

More likely a problem with the diet of the hens Chickenfan. We take ours off layers pellets well before we collect eggs because we don't want thick shells. Haven't needed to do that with our Wyandottes though because they are 5 years old and the shells are quite thin this year. There may be an inbreeding issue for you though?

 

[chickenfan]

That's a really helpful tip Chris. They were on layer's pellets but I've changed now to breeder's pellets. However, I think the issue is possibly due, as you say, to inbreeding as they came from somewhere where they had bred them for several years. I've also learnt that Sablepoots are prone to Mareks (although they get few other illnesses) and that this can affect hatch if the parents carry it. Most likely, however, I think eggs from older birds are more porous and therefore hatch much better under a broody because of the oil from the feathers adds a protective layer. They have been extraordinary layers, laying all through the Winter. But I now have one hen that is pecking the feathers from its throat/chest area so they have become very thin there. I'm not sure how to stop this. I've tried using an anti-feather-peck spray which hasn't worked and have just started them on a multivitamin. I must look back through your posts, as I think you mentioned a multimineral that is very good.