Why won't my hen accept my rooster's mating request?

[Burnttoast5475]

I had bought a silkie rooster last year in november and he was 8 months old when I got him. At the time my silkie hen was 8 months as well and he was a little nervous at first. As of now he has gotten more brave and has been trying to mate with her but she keeps rejecting him. I have no clue why as he's the only rooster I have. I had RIR that kept bullying him but I separated them for about 2 weeks now. Does anyone know why she keeps playing hard to get lol?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I had bought a silkie rooster last year in november and he was 8 months old when I got him. At the time my silkie hen was 8 months as well and he was a little nervous at first. As of now he has gotten more brave and has been trying to mate with her but she keeps rejecting him. I have no clue why as he's the only rooster I have. I had RIR that kept bullying him but I separated them for about 2 weeks now. Does anyone know why she keeps playing hard to get lol?

She doesn't like him. Some hens are just picky. Some will learn accept the new rooster, Some will just give him a hard time.

 

[Burnttoast5475]

She doesn't like him. Some hens are just picky. Some will learn accept the new rooster, Some will just give him a hard time.

oh dang, do you think I just need to give her time, or should I start looking into other girls for him? He's really cute and i'd love to have more babies like him.

 

[LaFleche]

You can test him to see if he is treating her right, behaving like a good cockerel/rooster should, or if he is still just a hormonal teenager:

Give him treats like pieces of cooked egg, meal worm or sunflower seeds and watch if he does call her and feeds it to her, or if he does devour it himself.

This little test is very telling.

 

[Burnttoast5475]

You can test him to see if he is treating her right, behaving like a good cockerel/rooster should, or if he is still just a hormonal teenager:

Give him treats like pieces of cooked egg, meal worm or sunflower seeds and watch if he does call her and feeds it to her, or if he does devour it himself.

This little test is very telling.

usually whenever i put worms he will cluck to call all the other hens I have besides the young chicks i have currently usually he tries to hog treats from them lol. But he always calls her to come eat unless shes broody. I've seen him offer her things and she just brushes him off or he just dances around her and she runs. Feel bad for the guy lol

 

[Burnttoast5475]

I think maybe he isn't fully mature maybe I hope there's nothing wrong with him

 

[LaFleche]

Does he show and prepare the nest box for her, escorting her to it and then later back to the flock when she is done?

 

[Burnttoast5475]

Does he show and prepare the nest box for her, escorting her to it and then later back to the flock when she is done?

No he does not..

 

[LaFleche]

No he does not..

Ahaaa, so he still has to learn some tricks to conquer your Silkie's heart!

 

[Burnttoast5475]

Ahaaa, so he still has to learn some tricks to conquer your Silkie's heart!

Thats good to know, lol. Thank you so much for the help!