How long until rooster breeds new hens?? Update: Still no love

[cluckcluck42]

So I am just curious, about a month and a half ago we got some new hens and had them in a coop with a rooster we got from the same place. They started molting right away, and they REALLY needed it, they were over bred and had tons of feathers missing from another rooster from their old home. The new rooster we had bought was NOT breeding them so we moved them in with my main flock and with my older rooster who has been doing a great job of breeding and caring for the girls. They are all doing pretty good since the move, no big fights, no feather picking, etc. But Rick James, my old and wise rooster, has not tried to court them or mount them once that I have seen. Is this because they are molting or does it take awhile for a rooster to breed new hens?? Maybe its because the new hens are ugly as sin, I don't quite blame him.

can't wait til they get their feathers all the way in.

Also- my hens have started laying on the floor since the new hens moved in. I know its because of the disruption, but is there anything I can do to get them laying in the boxes again?

Update: New hens have started laying, not molting anymore and we even switched roosters and even our main rooster still does not want them!! No idea what is wrong with these Welsummers, but neither rooster wants any romantical time with them. Geez.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I hope they settle in soon. It's probably because they are new. The young roo might have been the less dominant and just hasn't gotten his confidence yet. i dunno, but I wish you luck on things settling down!

 

[cluckcluck42]

Thank ya

I have the young roo out with some of my three month olds except so when they come of age they will be his girls. Hopefully by then he is up to it!!!

I just thought my main rooster would jump on the chance to have some new hens so it's a bit surprising! It's not abnormal to have the rooster take weeks to make nice with the new ladies then?

 

[cluckcluck42]

Anyone else have any experience introducing new hens to their flock?? How long did it take for the roo to start mating them?

 

[cluckcluck42]

I mean he's not even showing any interest in the new hens. Is this a common problem?

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I may well be wrong, but I don't think there is much mating going on while the girls are molting. I don't think the roo mounts until they are close to resuming egglaying. In fact, it's one way we could tell when ours were about to resume laying.
Nature doesn't waste the effort if it isn't a useful endeavor!

 

[cluckcluck42]

they'reHISchickens :

I may well be wrong, but I don't think there is much mating going on while the girls are molting. I don't think the roo mounts until they are close to resuming egglaying. In fact, it's one way we could tell when ours were about to resume laying.
Nature doesn't waste the effort if it isn't a useful endeavor!

That's exactly what I was thinking!! I told my hunny and he laughed and said do you really think the rooster knows they are molting? Maybe he does.​

 

[MareeZoCool]

My rooster wasted no time breeding with one of the two hens we just received. Hen #1 was submissive, so roo was happy to do his duty. Hen #2 is still not submissive, my roo won't try to breed her, won't preen her or sit beside her. He even pushes her away from the choice food!

 

[cluckcluck42]

Update:

Still not breeding the new hens AND the new hens are laying!! Not molting anymore, so no excuses Rick James.

So I am a bit mystified, he has 9 hens, I would expect a mature rooster to cover them all? I think I am going to remove some of his girlfriends to our other roosters coop, and kind of force him to start breeding the new hens.

You'd think he'd be all over the new girls! GEEZ!!!!

 

[sulco]

Quote:
Sometimes a male has to pace himself.