Breeding pens

[etraychic]

Hi! New member here, long time chicken owner......
I recently decided to try and breed my Bielefelder chickens. They normally free range with a mixed flock. I separated my five hens and rooster into a 14x 10 foot enclosed pen with large coop attached. I did not notice any mating but thought maybe I wasn't catching them in the act. I even extended their area out onto grass with several x-pens. After 3 weeks, I started collecting eggs. After 1 week+ in the incubator, no eggs were developing. Could the stress of being penned up make the chickens not want to mate? My roo has no problems mating when out free ranging. Just curious if anyone else has had this issue. Thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

Yes, it could be the stress of being penned now. And, yes, I've experienced it.

We have 6 breeding pens, and one is a problem. I am just being patient. I set eggs every 4-5 days and saw the fertilization picking up, then, suddenly dropped again. I'm hoping that was just a bad few days for some reason. I think yours too will improve.

Wait until someday you let the rooster out to swap him with another. He'll hang out by the pen wanting back in, for weeks. That's happened here a dozen times, and rather confusing. They start out free-ranging, get penned up, and like having their hens to themselves I guess.

 

[etraychic]

Yes, it could be the stress of being penned now. And, yes, I've experienced it.

We have 6 breeding pens, and one is a problem. I am just being patient. I set eggs every 4-5 days and saw the fertilization picking up, then, suddenly dropped again. I'm hoping that was just a bad few days for some reason. I think yours too will improve.

Wait until someday you let the rooster out to swap him with another. He'll hang out by the pen wanting back in, for weeks. That's happened here a dozen times, and rather confusing. They start out free-ranging, get penned up, and like having their hens to themselves I guess.

Thanks!