Does egg fertility depend on time of year?

[mojavemike1]

In the last month I have only hatched 4 chicks out of 24 eggs...2 breeders and 4 different breeds of chicken. All eggs were shipped USPS.,

8 Silver Spangled Spitzhauben = 0
4 Lakenvelders = 1
4 Silver Laced Polish = 2
8 Sumatra = 1 (5 were clear at 10 days).

My previous hatch was 8 out of 15 eggs 2 months ago, which seemed about right, so does time of year affect fertility?

Thanks

 

[Outpost JWB]

Not an expert on this by no means, but in answer to your question, I do believe it does. I have a bunch of chickens and a bunch of roosters. The roosters are definitely more "actively mating" in the spring than now. They are still mating, just not as aggressively.

What type of incubator are you using? Does the temp stay consistent? With you finding the 5 clear at candling, I'd say infertility is the biggest problem. Also could be the roosters they have are old, they may be infertile. I have a 5+ year old rooster. Have had him with different hens, each time to find the eggs are clear at 7 day candling.

 

[song of joy]

Yes, fertility is higher in the spring. However, the low hatch rate could be a result of shipping the eggs. Shipped eggs can have damaged air cells, making the hatch rate very low. 50% hatch rate with shipped eggs is considered really good. My last batch of shipped eggs had a 0% hatch rate due to damaged air cells.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

In the last month I have only hatched 4 chicks out of 24 eggs...2 breeders and 4 different breeds of chicken. All eggs were shipped USPS.,

8 Silver Spangled Spitzhauben = 0
4 Lakenvelders = 1
4 Silver Laced Polish = 2
8 Sumatra = 1 (5 were clear at 10 days).

My previous hatch was 8 out of 15 eggs 2 months ago, which seemed about right, so does time of year affect fertility?

Thanks

Honestly, I saw no decrease in fertility in my eggs this past winter vs spring/summer. They are all first years. Back in March (Which is still winter up here for us.) I bought 3 dozen eggs from another local farmer and had 100% fertility. (I have 100% as well.)

You are talking about shipped eggs though and I think that is your biggest variable. As stated 50% hatch rate on shipped eggs is considered good. Depending on the way the eggs are packaged and handled via the post office and handlers you will get a wide range of hatch rates. Not only can shipping cause air cell damage which in itself can make or break a hatch, but it can damage the egg itself in ways that you can't see making a fertile egg inviable. I can send someone 12 eggs that are all fertile and if my packaging lacks or the post office plays football with them they could all be "clears" 7 days after incubation.

Shipped eggs are a gamble. 4/24 is definitely dissapointing, but not unusual either. I've seen shipped eggs from certain people have well over 50% while others have 0%

 

[csaylorchickens]

How do you transport the eggs then? I'm picking up 6 fertilized eggs from my friend on Sunday and will it be ok to get the eggs and drive home and place them under the hen? How long can the eggs be without a hen?

 

[cypressdrake]

I find that in that in the heat of summer the fertility drops. The best is spring and fall winter months.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

How do you transport the eggs then? I'm picking up 6 fertilized eggs from my friend on Sunday and will it be ok to get the eggs and drive home and place them under the hen? How long can the eggs be without a hen?

You can collect and store eggs for days. It is recommended that you only collect and store 10 days or less. A good share of people won't incubate eggs older than 7 days. It's widely agreed on that over 2 week and rates significantly drop. This all provided that they are not presently being incubated already. If you are taking them from a broody hen that is sitting and placing them for another broody, that's riskier. The moving of developing embryos a distance in the car may affect viability. Picking up unincubated eggs is no big deal. Just make sure they are in a carton or something that isn't going to allow them to roll around and crack each other. Depending on the distance you are driving you may want to leave them sitting up for a few hours to settle. If it's just a local pickup, then yes, you can bring them home and put them under your hen.

 

[csaylorchickens]

None of her hens are broody, they are just laying a going about their business. That's why she wants to use my hen to hatch her some more chicks! lol Its a chicken community. LOVE IT!I did not know that you can eat fertilized eggs! strange, but makes sense. So 7 days is good to know. If I pick them up sunday late evening and put the eggs under at night would be around 8 to 12 hours after laying so I should be good!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

None of her hens are broody, they are just laying a going about their business. That's why she wants to use my hen to hatch her some more chicks! lol Its a chicken community. LOVE IT!I did not know that you can eat fertilized eggs! strange, but makes sense. So 7 days is good to know. If I pick them up sunday late evening and put the eggs under at night would be around 8 to 12 hours after laying so I should be good!

It's 7 days from when they lay, so as long as she's collecting them this week you should be good. Good luck.

 

[pipAchick]

It's 7 days from when they lay, so as long as she's collecting them this week you should be good.  Good luck.

Learning an intresting way to beat the heat for eggs my friend.
Can't believe what I had to sort thru,on accident to stumble upon it!.at fertility check 2of 3appear fertile (june'16)will k-i-t after two tests batches. Can not believe this didn't jump out at me before. I can't be the only one who noticed.?