[kentish_ginger]

I've been told that the fertility of eggs laid in the late autumn/winter will be low, but I can't find anything about it anywhere.  Does anyone know anything about this?  Do cockerels just not feel up to it, or do the hens not lay any eggs, or do they just not hatch well?

Thanks for any advice!

KG

[Jellyhead]

Hello  well the hens dont lay as many eggies in the winter months thats for sure but my cocks still seem pretty active  

[Foxy]

Wel the cocks will often moult through the autumn, they can lose a bit of weight and fertility will suffer as a result.
All my cocks have moulted this autumn and the youngsters bred this year well are a bit too young!
Also whats the point? if the hens aren't laying anyway?

[agapanthus]

 Do cockerels just not feel up to it,



KG

Try telling my Shakespeare that.....at least 8 times a day and once today he was ontop of a younger cockerel!!!!! :shock:  :shock:

[Bodger]

The very primitive breeds of chickens definately do, but over the centuries man has selectively bred this out of the modern breeds to some extent. In other words, they ate the ones that showed this seasonal laying behaviour and kept the ones that didn't.

Even this seasonal laying can be altered by mans engineering of the chickens environment by both feeding and artificial lighting.

[kentish_ginger]

Wanted to know because we were trying to hatch some eggs at college.  We were given three batches, from two different places (both college farms), and every single egg was infertile.  About 34 eggs in total.

Either that, or we managed to kill them before they even started developing, but that doesn't seem very likely.  Or is it?