Fertile eggs not developing

[AlexisWheeler]

I have some Silver Laced Chocolate English Orpingtons who I have been trying to hatch eggs from in my incubator. There is crystal clear evidence of fertilization but NONE of them are developing at all in my incubator. I have other eggs in with them from my whiting true Blue hen and they are developing nicely. (this hen was bred by the same roosters as the Orpingtons so it can't be a rooster issue)
The hens are about 1 year old i'd say.
I've already did 3-4 different runs of eggs in this incubator so it's not an incubator issue.

I've successfully hatched 2 batches of chicks from these hens before so what could be the issue here?

 

[Debbie292d]

I had fertilization/hatch issues when I started early this February. In one pen, I blamed a hen, and in another, I blamed a rooster. Bottom line was, these roosters and hens were barely a year old, and since these are silkies, they mature slower than other breeds. In time, the fertilization/hatching improved. Yours apparently isn't a fertilization issue at all, but it's obviously something with those hens.

I'd give it some time with them. I'm assuming they are on a nutritional feed and getting oyster shell on the side, as nutrition and genetics play a role in embryonic quality.

 

[AlexisWheeler]

I had fertilization/hatch issues when I started early this February. In one pen, I blamed a hen, and in another, I blamed a rooster. Bottom line was, these roosters and hens were barely a year old, and since these are silkies, they mature slower than other breeds. In time, the fertilization/hatching improved. Yours apparently isn't a fertilization issue at all, but it's obviously something with those hens.

I'd give it some time with them. I'm assuming they are on a nutritional feed and getting oyster shell on the side, as nutrition and genetics play a role in embryonic quality.

Thank you for your reply!

I definitely agree. I think it is something genetic because they all get the same feed and this doesn't happen with the other breeds of hens

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I have had over 40 Orpingtons and they all matured slowly compared to my other breeds. I do not hatch eggs from any hen less than 1 year old.

 

[AlexisWheeler]

I have had over 40 Orpingtons and they all matured slowly compared to my other breeds. I do not hatch eggs from any hen less than 1 year old.

I just went back and looked at my calendar. They hatched out on December 1, 2023 so they are 1 yr and 4 months.