My rooster is courting my new hen?

[blooming silkie]

I am a new silkie chicken owner. My chickens are now around 5 months old. I have one cockerel for sure right now and 4 others that I don't know as of yet. However, I have one hen that has been with the others since they were about 6 weeks old. Well yesterday after a period of quarantine, I put my new hen about 4-5 months old in with the others, low and behold my rooster did some sort of dance around her, rubbing up next to her, and then tried mounting her. What I don't understand is why he has not tried courting the existing hen that has been with him? are roosters selective in mating? And...how do you know that the hens are ready to lay eggs?

 

[Lollipop]

I am a new silkie chicken owner. My chickens are now around 5 months old. I have one cockerel for sure right now and 4 others that I don't know as of yet. However, I have one hen that has been with the others since they were about 6 weeks old. Well yesterday after a period of quarantine, I put my new hen about 4-5 months old in with the others, low and behold my rooster did some sort of dance around her, rubbing up next to her, and then tried mounting her. What I don't understand is why he has not tried courting the existing hen that has been with him? are roosters selective in mating? And...how do you know that the hens are ready to lay eggs?

lemme start by saying I'm not a Silkie person. I, like most folks, can't tell a rooster from a hen until their behavior gives them away. Fortunately they act like most chickens when they start getting to egg laying age. Now, while it's true that roosters and hens sometimes are selective of their favorites, it's very unusual for a rooster to withhold himself from any hen in his proximity. That said, I would guess that if your pullets are receptive, meaning egg laying, then he is tapping them on the sly, or when you aren't around. If they are laying, you can do a search on this sight for fertile eggs and see pictures showing how to determine if your eggs are fertile. Have fun...........Pop