Cockerel won’t mate with naked neck hens

[Matilda Belle]

Is it normal for a 7 month old cockerel to only mate with certain hens and not others? Specifically, he isn’t mating with the naked necks. Maybe he’s confused by them? You think as he gets older he will mate with all of them?

 

[Trimurtisan]

Is it normal for a 7 month old cockerel to only mate with certain hens and not others?

I'd say it's normal. All of our boys have certain girlfriends they tend to favor.

 

[aart]

Wonders if it's because there's nothing to hang onto(no neck feathers)?
@igorsMistress might know, I think she has NN's.

 

[Matilda Belle]

Wonders if it's because there's nothing to hang onto(no neck feathers)?
@igorsMistress might know, I think she has NN's.

I was wondering if that was the reason too.

 

[igorsMistress]

It could be all of the above imo. Question though, are Nn laying?

Based on my observations roosters don't all have the same technique when they mate. Your rooster can see the difference and may find it easier to mate with the fully feathered girls. I think he'll become more confident and give it a shot with time. The boys do have their favorites as well, that could be coincidental.

FWIW, I have a primarily Nn flock right now. My roo grew up with older pullets and I've never seen an injury on any of them so they do figure it out.

 

[Matilda Belle]

It could be all of the above imo. Question though, are Nn laying?

I have two naked neck hens that are laying, and one naked neck pullet that is laying. I've seen them squat right in front of him and he just pecks them and they run away.

I want naked neck babies!

 

[BlueBaby]

If you are trying to make those showgirl type, then I have heard that it's better to have the roo be the naked neck part of that match over the silkie hen's. Then you keep the pullet's with the naked neck's and breed them back to a silkie roo.

 

[Matilda Belle]

If you are trying to make those showgirl type, then I have heard that it's better to have the roo be the naked neck part of that match over the silkie hen's. Then you keep the pullet's with the naked neck's and breed them back to a silkie roo.

I've never heard that before.

I had another silkie rooster I since parted with that had no problem mating my showgirls. I'm thinking and hoping this is more cockerel behavior and he'll grow to love the showgirls some day.

 

[BlueBaby]

I've never heard that before.

I had another silkie rooster I since parted with that had no problem mating my showgirls. I'm thinking and hoping this is more cockerel behavior and he'll grow to love the showgirls some day.

Ok, so your naked neck girls are already the showgirl one's? Then, is there a way that you could remove the fully feathered necked girl's from that pen, so that he will have no choice but to breed the naked necked one's?

 

[Matilda Belle]

Ok, so your naked neck girls are already the showgirl one's? Then, is there a way that you could remove the fully feathered necked girl's from that pen, so that he will have no choice but to breed the naked necked one's?

Never thought of that! I am able to divide up the pens, but I have it all open right now. If he doesn't get his act together, I may put him a pen with only showgirls and try that. Good thinking!