hen got dumped by rooster and not taking it very well

[averyyr]

hi everyone! I’m in need of advice about my poor hen who recently got dumped by my rooster for our newly matured hens. My rooster is a 1.5 year old silkie mix and the hen is as well. These two had the cutest relationship, just like an old married couple (hence the title) but after integrating some pullets who just reached laying age in, he seems no longer interested in her. They did have some problems in the past, my hen was surprisingly the dominant one but my rooster continued to do his duties and they were inseparable. This time though, my hen isn’t taking it as well as there is no longer another rooster to run to. She appears to be showing the signs of molting such as feather shafts on the end of her feathers (sorry if i’m wrong about that, still learning my chicken terms), but molted a couple months before so I don’t believe it is that. What’s worse is, she hasn’t layed in 3 months and my rooster is refusing to mount her. Now I will admit, my rooster isn’t very active with his ladies but still manages. The last time she layed, she was broody and because I was away on a trip she sat on her eggs for about 3-5 days. I’m worried she may be lonely given in my flock of 5 she and the rooster are the only silkies. My three other hens my rooster left her for are barred rock/americana mix (not to worry though! The hen in question is very tough/mean and doesn’t hesitate to put them in their place despite her size!) Her behaviour since the breakup has completely changed, instead of running out of the door with the others she just stands there and watches them from inside the pen when I free range them. There has also been occasions when I put time in a temporary free range pen and everyone manages to escape vs her who just stands there alone and doesn’t even try. I’m beginning to worry about her constantly, and I was recently offered a silkie chick and was thinking having another silkie hen would help her feel better? I used to before (we lost them all to old age complications this spring) and she got along great with them. please help I wanna see her back to her old happy self!

edit: I forgot to add on that the hen and my others get along fine!

 

[aart]

If she's around 18 months old, and you live in the northern hemisphere, she probably molting and it' also why she's not laying.
He is not mounting her because she's not laying,
a good cock/erel will only mount actively laying females.

She'll be fine, adding more birds will only complicate matters.

 

[averyyr]

If she's around 18 months old, and you live in the northern hemisphere, she probably molting and it' also why she's not laying.
He is not mounting her because she's not laying,
a good cock/erel will only mount actively laying females.

She'll be fine, adding more birds will only complicate matters.

Thank you that sounds about right!