How do you get the rooster in the mood?

[geebs]

candlelite and strawberries and whipped cream!!! ha ha ha

 

[Surehatch]

This is a very popular question.

There is very little you can do to promote broodiness apart from providing enough food, water, and shelter to ensure that the cocks and hens are relaxed. From there Mother Nature has to do her thing. Try introducing the cocks to other hens and vice versa

 

[eggsited chickens]

I have 26 hens and two roos. All of the hens have NO feathers on their back except two large ones. I have one 'top' roo, and most of the hens are his...and he's busy. From the time I let him out in the morning to the time he is back in bed he's hopping and feeding his girls. I feel so sorry for them...debating whether or not to get seperate them.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
And stop collecting the eggs out of the nest, right? In nature, birds don't begin to incubate until they have a full clutch (whatever that is for the particular species) to set.

 

[lalyswishytail]

I love the funny resonses to my original question! I don't want bare backed chickens! Can't I just separate two hens and a rooster and watch for a few minutes and wait for fertilized eggs?

I really need a good beginner's guide to mating! Anyone know of a good link?

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Not all roosters overmate their hens. We had a sweet little Serama/OEGB rooster that we unfortunately had to rehome because roosters are illegal where we live. He was a gentle mate to his four hens. Other than being a little frisky and chasing them first thing in the morning, he was a perfect gentleman. If a hen didn't want to mate with him, he took "no" for an answer.

Maybe we could help with more specific advice if you explained what your situation is. Do you have a rooster and hens already? I think what people are trying to tell you is that chickens pretty much know how to reproduce on their own, provided you pick a breed that tends to produce broody hens.

 

[lalyswishytail]

Specifically, I have two barred rock roosters and a mix of 28 RIRs and BR hens. Currently, the roosters are kept separately, in an inadequate bunny hutch. I only recently acquired all of these animals: I have my own flock of 5 chickens that I keep on a property next door to a farm. The original owner of my new flock set up his coop on the farm and ordered 30 day old chicks. Two of the chicks turned out to be roosters. The original owner then took a job four hours away and left his flock to the farmer who, in turn, asked me to help take care of everybody. The farmer suggested we give away the roosters, but I didn't want to see the roosters turned into soup, so I convinced him to keep them. The other day, Leroy got out of the bunny hutch. When I tried to catch him, he turned on me and started pecking. I got scared and had to ask the farmer for help catching Leroy who was putting on quite a show for the ladies that were inside of the run at the time. The farmer again suggested getting rid of the roosters and I started thinking it may not be a bad idea. I don't want to mix the roosters with the hens because we currently sell the eggs at a rate that is paying the cost of keeping the flock running plus a little bit extra for my pocket. If everyone is still following my story, here is a new twist... The original owner of the flock is coming to take six chickens. Not a big deal to me. However, the farmer wants to keep the egg business going and is trying to get me to buy six new hens so we don't lose egg sales. Again, I don't care about the money. Chickens are a fun little hobby for me and my five are my pets. I am interested in trying to hatch chicks, but I don't know what I'm doing at all. If I mix the roosters with the hens, how will I know which eggs are fertilized? Bloody eggs would be bad for business. Can I separate a couple of hens with a rooster and play a little mood music for them, or what? I'm being pressured to make a decision about keeping the roosters or not within about three days. Another problem to consider is that once chicks hatch, some of them will be roosters too! Then what? I'm vegetarian and really struggle with the idea that male chicks don't have much of a place in the world--it is so unfair!

Is that specific enough? Please tell me if there is more you need to know as I'm trying to find the right answers to my questions! Thanks for your help.

 

[cashdl]

Can you put a few hens in with the roosters instead of putting the roosters in with the hens? That way you know which ones will probably be fertile. Roosters can get frisky in the spring and attack people. Do not show fear!!! They could also be feeling frustrated since they are not getting any and the girls are so close by. They are male after all.

If a roo starts to attack regulary carry a broom and bap him with it. You don't have to hit him hard but it can change his mind.

Also if you hatch chicks some of them will be boys and you can try giving them away. That has worked well for me. I posted an add on craigslist. Gave away two adult polish boys and have a waiting list for other boys.

You don't have to keep both roos to get fertile eggs, so see how nice they are to the hens and then if they overbreed them maybe give away 1.

Lanae

 

[tammyd57]

Having a rooster or two in with the hens won't affect your egg sales unless your customers do not want fertilized eggs. The majority of egg buyers don't even know what to look for to see if an egg is fertilized. And it won't cause 'bloody eggs'. Fertile eggs are exactly the same as unfertile eggs in taste, texture, looks and nutrition.
You would need to separate hens to hatch eggs though. Or get an incubator for hatching.
Your chickens make good meat birds so giving away extra male chicks on Craigslist would be very easy.

 

[Mervin]

Put a trio or quad (couple of hens and a roo) in a separate breeder pen and let nature take its course. If you must put on a Barry White CD, get them a plate of oysters and maybe some chocolate. You'll have fertile eggs in no time.