Hens wont submit to Rooster, raised together for over a year.

[KatieBird]

I have 6 hens and a rooster, they were bought may 5th 2015 as day olds, so they are now over a year old. they have been laying since 6 months old. The rooster has been mating them by sneaking up on them. They will not squat for him. I think the issue is that he doesn't dance properly he just drops his wing and shuffles toward them instead of doing a proper dance. I also read that they may not accept him as the dominant rooster and instead see me as one.

Anything I could do to make him more desirable and make them more responsive to him? I would like them to hatch chicks next year, one hen was already broody for 2 months before.
Please and thank you for any suggestions

 

[Braxton Brigade]

I have 6 hens and a rooster, they were bought may 5th 2015 as day olds, so they are now over a year old. they have been laying since 6 months old. The rooster has been mating them by sneaking up on them. They will not squat for him. I think the issue is that he doesn't dance properly he just drops his wing and shuffles toward them instead of doing a proper dance. I also read that they may not accept him as the dominant rooster and instead see me as one.

Anything I could do to make him more desirable and make them more responsive to him? I would like them to hatch chicks next year, one hen was already broody for 2 months before.
Please and thank you for any suggestions

Does he call them over when you feed them or does he scarf in down as soon as it hits the ground? Usually dropping a wing is how they dance, they drop a wing and scuffle around the hens, some circle the hens as they do this. That is exactly how my roosters dance. Perhaps he is low in the pecking order and hen is at the top? Some roos just fail to assert themselves to the hens, then the hens just ignore the guys. Honestly it isn't often that my hens just squat down before being grabbed by the rooster.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some roosters are like that, those are the ones I cull, most hens don't like being mated, but accept it in exchange for what a good rooster offers. Do your hens seem to follow him and enjoy his company, or are they always a bit wary and run from him? If they run from him I wouldn't keep him, there are better roosters.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Get golden comets. Some of mine squat before I'm 10 feet from them and they all squat when I'm just trying to pet them. GC

 

[KatieBird]

He does find food for them and he also calls them when it gets dark to roost, they dust bathe together as well. They probably just don't like mating. Thanks for the replies, I suppose as long as he isn't hurting them its fine, I can always re home him later