The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Housing, Health & Hatching
Infertility question
John:
--- Quote ---trimming both hen & rooster
--- End quote ---
I do that to all my breeders every year whether it looks like they need it or not...I need all the fertile eggs I can get.
Don:
Sharon, You did not mention their pen arrangement but could there could be other issues such as hen fighting, tight quarters or even just inexperience for the year. If you really want to to hatch from her, then trim them and put her in with the male as a pair in as large a pen as you can spare. A little quality time might get them working together better. If she is a real prize winner as a last resort you could always try AI to see if you can get a few chicks out. You will want to follow chicks that are from this mating to see if its going to repeat itself. Obviously the goal is create a very active and productive line of birds.
Mike Gilbert:
--- Quote from: John ---
--- Quote ---trimming both hen & rooster
--- End quote ---
I do that to all my breeders every year whether it looks like they need it or not...I need all the fertile eggs I can get.
--- End quote ---
John, you know I love you like a brother, but have you ever considered that practice is perpetuating a problem? The reason we have fertility problems from excess fluffiness is because we breed from those birds. Raise chicks from only those that reproduce naturally without assistance, and in a few years the problem goes away via natural selection. I must confess there was a time when I did the same thing, but not any more since realizing what that was doing. The integrity of the breed should come before other considerations.
Sharon Yorks:
I have this hen in an 8x5 indoor section of my coop that has an 10x12 outside run access. She is only in with the cockerel and her two hatch mate sisters and all 4 get along very well. This is \"Tonya\" the hen that my son won reserve grand champion (out of 83 birds) at the fair last year and is the sister to the one in my avatar picture.
I did flip her over and checked her fluff and it was very thick. I trimmed a lot off and am eager to see if that is the issue. (How long would it take to know? Would the eggs be fertile in a day or two?) I date all of my eggs.
I agree with Mike (to a point) but am curious as to why her two sisters are not having any problems with that issue and if breeding Tonya would create more problems. I do believe that she is well worth giving it a try, but appreciate the heads up and will keep a sharp eye out for her offspring to see if it is passed on.
Thanks for the information. I love this forum! Just wished I would have asked earlier. I have eggs due April 7th, but will be setting more of her eggs on the 10th. I guess we\'ll know in 5-6 days after that when I candle them.
Sharon
John:
--- Quote ---but have you ever considered that practice is perpetuating a problem?
--- End quote ---
I don\'t think it is. I select for birds with the proper feathers and am not trimming because there is excessive fluff, although at least one LF buff has it. If I were trimming due to excessive fluff I would agree.
These birds may even have the same fertility whether trimmed or not, but with all I have invested in feed, electricity, etc. I want them to have every advantage possible to produce eggs that produce chicks.
This also helps cut down on the waste product (caca) that sometimes accumulates on the feathers around the vent, since the feathers are trimmed short.
I know you don\'t use heated waterers for your birds, but I do. Not because they need them, but to make sure there is plenty of water available during the egg collecting season. Those waterers also save a lot of my time all winter long. ;)
The same with feeding them a special game bird breeder feed starting about a month before collecting eggs to set. On this one we\'ll probably agree that it helps produce yokes that will produce healthier chicks (prenatal health).
I liken it somewhat to artificial insemination (AI). If someone uses that method because that is the way they want to it is probably a good way to go. But, if they use AI because their birds are to big to mate naturally then they are perpetuating a problem.
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