2 year old Narragansett hen won’t lay down for Tom

[agleason66]

I have a two year old hen that has been with my Tom for over a year now. Poor guy, as much as he try’s she will not lay down for him. She acts like she wants nothing to do with breeding. She has payed a couple batches of eggs through out the years but none fertile of coarse because she won’t let him get ahold of her. Anyone ever had this or any suggestions? I never had this problem with my Bourbon Reds.

 

[R2elk]

I have a two year old hen that has been with my Tom for over a year now. Poor guy, as much as he try’s she will not lay down for him. She acts like she wants nothing to do with breeding. She has laid a couple batches of eggs through out the years but none fertile of coarse because she won’t let him get hold of her. Anyone ever had this or any suggestions? I never had this problem with my Bourbon Reds.

It can happen. When I switched out my Blue Slate tom for a Self Blue tom, my Blue Slate hen refused to mate with the Self Blue tom that first year. She did allow him to breed her in following years.

If a hen is imprinted by people she may never lie down for a tom. At least one backyard breeder would imprint his poults and when it came breeding time, he would stand there while the hens lay down for him and let the toms have their way with his hens.

I do not know why your hen is not accepting your tom but it may be as simple as her not liking him.

 

[agleason66]

It can happen. When I switched out my Blue Slate tom for a Self Blue tom, my Blue Slate hen refused to mate with the Self Blue tom that first year. She did allow him to breed her in following years.

If a hen is imprinted by people she may never lie down for a tom. At least one backyard breeder would imprint his poults and when it came breeding time, he would stand there while the hens lay down for him and let the toms have their way with his hens.

I do not know why your hen is not accepting your tom but it may be as simple as her not liking him.

Yeah they are inseparable and she follows him as he follows her but when it comes to that she doesn’t even attempt it. She even walks around some times puffed up like him which is real weird because I’ve never seen a hen puff up and fan like that. Trying to find another adult hen to add to the pair and hoping if she sees another hen go through the motions she might pick up on it.

 

[R2elk]

Yeah they are inseparable and she follows him as he follows her but when it comes to that she doesn’t even attempt it. She even walks around some times puffed up like him which is real weird because I’ve never seen a hen puff up and fan like that. Trying to find another adult hen to add to the pair and hoping if she sees another hen go through the motions she might pick up on it.

It is really common for hens to strut and display especially during breeding season. I had one hen that would pick a fight with the tom before she would let him breed her.

 

[ketojenn]

It can happen. When I switched out my Blue Slate tom for a Self Blue tom, my Blue Slate hen refused to mate with the Self Blue tom that first year. She did allow him to breed her in following years.

If a hen is imprinted by people she may never lie down for a tom. At least one backyard breeder would imprint his poults and when it came breeding time, he would stand there while the hens lay down for him and let the toms have their way with his hens.

I do not know why your hen is not accepting your tom but it may be as simple as her not liking him.

This is how mine breed. I have to be standing there. The first time it happened I thought it was funny, now I realize it's the only way I'm going to have fertile eggs out of Jackie. I've been much more hands off the new poults and I'm hoping they act more turkey-like.

 

[R2elk]

This is how mine breed. I have to be standing there. The first time it happened I thought it was funny, now I realize it's the only way I'm going to have fertile eggs out of Jackie. I've been much more hands off the new poults and I'm hoping they act more turkey-like.

I go out of my way to avoid imprinting my poults. I prefer having turkeys that act like turkeys. Mine do not come to me nor do they follow me around. They also do not get in my way whenever I am doing something.