clutch size

[micki]

just wondering whether its the cock or hen who has influence over clutch size?
i have a pair of senegals who lay 2 eggs and 1 chick survived this year. the year before they lay 2 eggs as well. just wondering if i paired the hen up with a bachalor cock that i have whether the clutch size would be different?

[Abby]

I'm really not sure. My thinking is it would be the female. The percentage of fertile eggs though is from the male.That much I'm sure on.

The way I'm coming to this conclusion is that if you have a fertile female and an infertile or low fertility male she'll lay whatever number of eggs but they may not actually be fertile. I have this issue with a pair of my GCCs where his fertility is low. It's a bit hit and miss as to whether they have fertile eggs from one time to another.

I don't think the clutch size would be different just purely from changing cock birds. What may affect it is changing diet slightly a month or so before breeding time. Really up the fresh foods and I'm a big believer in spouting especially for breeding birds.

[micki]

thanks for the advice Abby