How to get my pekin Bantam hen's to stay with the rooster?

[JCW0743716600]

Hi all

I have four black pekin bantam hen's & just got a black pekin Rooster a few weeks ago but they want nothing to do with him. The rooster is off at one end of the yard while the hen's are at the other. I want them to stay together not just for mating but protection too, how can I get my hen's to accept him I don't have any other chickens apart from these & they are free range. Thank you any advice would be appreciated x

 

[chuckachucka]

It takes time for an established flock to accept any new member, even a rooster. It is the roosters job to win them over though so hopefully he will find his place with them eventually. How old are the hens and rooster? If he is younger he might take longer to figure things out.

You could encourage things by bringing treats to him and not the girls. Leave them on the ground with him and he should start tidbit ting, calling the girls for the treats. Once the girls start seeing him as their treat finder they will follow him anywhere r!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Give it time... He has to win them over. If he is a young cockerel it can take longer.

Pics always welcome!

 

[Shadrach]

Hi all

I have four black pekin bantam hen's & just got a black pekin Rooster a few weeks ago but they want nothing to do with him. The rooster is off at one end of the yard while the hen's are at the other. I want them to stay together not just for mating but protection too, how can I get my hen's to accept him I don't have any other chickens apart from these & they are free range. Thank you any advice would be appreciated x

Hello CW0743716600. Welcome to BYC.
How old are your hens?
It takes time for hens to accept a rooster. They choose not the rooster, as you seem to realise.
You can help him impress them by giving him a treat every now and then.
He'll probably eat them himself for a while but he'll learn that the hens come over hoping they'll get something. It sounds mean but don't give them any; just the rooster.
It's a bit more difficult in a yard, but here (free range) the roosters start courting the hens by doing escort duties when the hen goes to lay an egg (they go with the hen to the egg laying spot and wait)
Do the hens let him in the coop at night?
Roosting time coop check is another strategy for impressing hens. The rooster goes in first to make sure there are no bad guys in there.

 

[JCW0743716600]

Hi all,

Thank you for all the advice I am definitely going to give it a try X

 

[JCW0743716600]

Good news, The hen's as of this Saturday have now allowed the rooster to join them he is happy as am I. he is already at work with one of the hen's & I'm sure it won't be long before the courting starts with the other 3