Eggs not getting fertilized?

[16 and me]

I would try trimming the silkies fluff

X2

 

[Yard Farmer]

I’ve had only 5 of 20 silkie eggs develop but all my turkey and ducks eggs in that incubator have either hatched or are developing normally

Your hens also might be rejecting the roosters sperm.
Have you watched him mount the hens, and be somewhat successful?

 

[cynrg8]

Well, right.
I was meaning the silkie eggs specifically. My bad.

No worries! I have 20 eggs each in my two incubators and in both out of the 20 only 4 or 5 seems to be fertilized

 

[Yard Farmer]

Ohhhh okay sorry

No, no. It's all good.

 

[ShrekDawg]

No, no. It's all good.

Thanks!

 

[cynrg8]

Your hens also might be rejecting the roosters sperm.
Have you watched him mount the hens, and be somewhat successful?

I had no idea this could happen. I’ve only seen him mount once but I’m generally at work most of the day so I haven’t had much time to watch him.

 

[16 and me]

I had no idea this could happen. I’ve only seen him mount once but I’m generally at work most of the day so I haven’t had much time to watch him.

I try to pay attention first thing in the morning and early evening before they roost. That's prime mating time in my experience. Make a cup of tea and just hang out. I see who's being mated and check their eggs over the next few days. In the meantime, a vent trimming won't hurt and you'll see if the eggs are fertilized or not relatively quickly.

 

[Yard Farmer]

I had no idea this could happen. I’ve only seen him mount once but I’m generally at work most of the day so I haven’t had much time to watch him.

Yeah, I'm not sure what makes them decide to recent the sperm, but they can and will.

I try to pay attention first thing in the morning and early evening before they roost. That's prime mating time in my experience. Make a cup of tea and just hang out. I see who's being mated and check their eggs over the next few days. In the meantime, a vent trimming won't hurt and you'll see if the eggs are fertilized or not relatively quickly.

I completely agree with this.
If you can do this, @cynrg8 I think that would be the best bet.