GRRR! My rooster won't mate!

[Paganbird]

Quote:
My thoughts exactly.
I have 4 roos who wouldn't even think about mating a hen in front of me. I'm flattered.
I know they do their business, though, because the eggs are fertile. Have you checked the eggs for fertility?

 

[Nostalchic]

edited for inappropriate content

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Not that there's anything wrong with that!

I love Seinfeld!

 

[PhilErvin]

Maybe your hens are ugly and he has higher standards?
Try low lighting and soft music.
I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself.
Seriously, I would guess he is too young.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:

I belive he's said to be 10-11 months old, mine we're mating at 4-6 months so I dont' think he's too young.

 

[SheeReno]

I just saw my 12 week old Silkie roo try to mate, so I doubt it's an age issue. I've heard about roos only liking specific hens, maybe you just chose thge wrong one?

 

[Mahonri]

I had a Blue Ameraucana roo that didn't attempt to mate until he was almost 11 months old.

I have a Blue Wheaten Ameraucana roo, hatched the first part of July who is getting the job done! *I'll be testing his fertility next month.

Some of the hens didn't lay until they were 10 months old.

Patience.

 

[Bantimna]

edited for inappropriate content

 

[lauralou]

Give him until spring. It's natural for spring to be a high-mating time of year. If nothing happens come spring, then you start to worry.

He's probably just slow to develop.

(Why don't I ever get a rooster like that? Roosters drive me nuts with all of the crowing and harrassing of my hens! I would dearly love a rooster that just looked pretty and didn't annoy me and my lovely girls..... Okay, I'm done. Sorry!)

 

[MissPrissy]

I have cleaned up this thread of the inappropriate remarks. If you can't offer real help to the OP then you should not comment. Giving animals humanistic behaviors doesn't help.

When posting on these threads I expect each of you to remember this is a G-rated forum and we have children of all ages on the forum. Keep your replies on topic and make sure you are following the rules. Crude and vulgar replies with the intent to be a comedian at the expense of other people is wrong. The comments I removed are trolling and flaming. Do not let it happen again.


To the OP - my apologies for the comments on this thread and the behavior of others.


Hens squatting for you has nothing to do with the fertility of your rooster. Squatting is a sign of submission and it means your hens see you as an authority and dominating figure therefore they squat when you approach them.

10 months isn't too young for a rooster to mate and I am sure your rooster is mating your hens at some point. Check your hen's eggs and look for the signs of fertility. There is a very good thread by Speckledhen with photos of what a fertilized egg should look like when you crack it. You can see the bullseye ring of the blastodyst.

If it turns out your eggs are not fertile then you need to check into the health of the rooster. While it is possible for a rooster to be sterile it doesn't happen often. Infertility can also be due to the type of feed he is getting, lack of proper sunshine exposure and/or temperatures. As we head into winter it is common for roosters to go infertile - short days, molting, cold weather - etc.