Eggs aren\'t developing

[Jean]

I have been trying to start my \"silver size improvement\" project for the past 3-4 weeks, but my eggs are not developing.  
 
At first I thought my cock bird was infertile, because there was no development whatsoever.  But then I cracked a couple of fresh eggs open and found the \"bullseye\".  So my little guy didn\'t get culled.

I have since put more eggs in the incubator and they are not developing at all.  I pulled a couple out today and cracked them and I could see they were fertilized.

So, what could be the problem?  These birds are so not related and the rooster appears to be doing his job.  All the birds are on vitamin water, what\'s going on???

Thanks,

[Mike Gilbert]

Has this particular rooster fertilized eggs from other hens that did develop?    

[bantamhill]

Try a different cock.

Michael

[Jean]

No, he hasn\'t been bred before, this is his first season with the gals.

Ok, but he was the biggest bodied boy I had.  Do you have any left over boys Michael??

[bantamhill]

I am down to two currently that I am using that both have some age on them . . . fertility isn\'t the greatest. Are you using a silver cock on black hens?

[Jean]

Yes I am.  They are large hens with nice slate legs.

I guess I will have to take the older cock and move him from pen to pen every couple of days.

Just as a pointer for this project, should I keep all the F1 pullets or just the ones with chipmunck stripes?  Or, will they hatch black?  Has anyone done this project lately?

[Mike Gilbert]

They will likely hatch black, as E & E>R are dominant to wild type (e).     The cockerels will likely develop silver or amber in the hackles, and the pullets may have silver in the hackles when they mature.   Do you have any pictures of your blacks with slate (as opposed to black) shanks?

[John]

Or, will they hatch black?

Yes, as Mike said.  I\'ve hatch many this year and still have some.  The cockerels end up with off-colors in thier hackles.  Many had a yellowish looking pads on the bottoms of thier feet as day-old chicks and were placed in the \"reject\" brooder.  I only want a couple of the best pullets to breed to a silver cock next year, so I\'ve culled heavily.

[Tailfeathers]

Hi Jean,

That is odd that they wouldn\'t show any development at all.  If they\'re fertilized you would think there would be some development.  

I assume you have checked all the common likely causes like the temp, humidity, and such.

Do let us all know if you figure out what it is.  Never know when I might experience the same.  Feel free to send me an email as I get so busy I forget to come on here very often.

God Bless,

[Jean]

Here\'s cockerel from a couple years ago that is on my website.

[Mike Gilbert]

Thanks for sharing the photo Jean.   That is the way we envisioned the Blacks when the standard was originally written up.    But the change was made to accomodate the majority.   If I were still raising blacks the slate leg coloring is the way I would want them.

[Jean]

I like the contrast better, they just stand out with the slate legs.

[Jean]

Yeah!!  I have some eggs developing.  I put off culling my cock because I have been being lazy.  I set some eggs from a couple splash pullets that were in the pen and they are developing.

I guess I will have some blue silvers.  Oh well, at least it is a start.

[Guest]

I am new to the forum.  How do I do a post?  Thanks, pjfarm :stare: