Rooster trying to breed 10 week old pullets when favorite hen is broody

[hoosierhens101]

I have 1 rooster with 2 adult hens while my 10 ten week old pullets mature. He is perfectly satisfied with his 2 hens normally. The problem is his favorite hen, formally known as Rose, has gone broody 3 times in the last 3 months. Her name is now Sybil. The first time lasted 4 days. Second time 11 days. She is on day 7 of broody jail right now. The youngsters have been fully integrated for about a month. The rooster has been aggressively chasing the 10 week old pullets the last few mornings. He has not caught one yet. Should I quickly try to get a few more adult hens? When will the pullets be old enough to mate? I figure Sybil is almost thru this most recent broodiness and should be unbroody for a few weeks before she goes broody again.

 

[ashlierami]

I have 1 rooster with 2 adult hens while my 10 ten week old pullets mature. He is perfectly satisfied with his 2 hens normally. The problem is his favorite hen, formally known as Rose, has gone broody 3 times in the last 3 months. Her name is now Sybil. The first time lasted 4 days. Second time 11 days. She is on day 7 of broody jail right now. The youngsters have been fully integrated for about a month. The rooster has been aggressively chasing the 10 week old pullets the last few mornings. He has not caught one yet. Should I quickly try to get a few more adult hens? When will the pullets be old enough to mate? I figure Sybil is almost thru this most recent broodiness and should be unbroody for a few weeks before she goes broody again.

This made me laugh! I love the name change! It sounds like he's unhappy or unsatisfied with just having one hen. Or could be bored. When my girls were broody my rooster went to the extent of leaving home and going to neighbors houses to find a hen or try to pick up one of theirs. I had to go get him alot and he wasn't happy until he got more entertainment. My roo is active he loves to take the girls to forage and find food. In my experience my girls weren't mature and interested in the room until about 4 1/2 or 5 months of age. If possible I would find him more girls so he will leave the children alone. My roo has 2 hens right now and 4 chicks that he takes care of and he doesn't bother the chicks in that way. One of the chicks is even showing to be a possible roo and he doesn't bother him or try to get him out of his flock.

 

[Redhead Rae]

You have a flock imbalance problem. I would pen him up separately, but in sight of the rest of the flock, until the pullets are older.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Adding more hens to your flock right now would just cause problems, plus I recommend a 1 month quarantine for new birds over a few days old and older.

 

[hoosierhens101]

Adding more hens to your flock right now would just cause problems, plus I recommend a 1 month quarantine for new birds over a few days old and older.

I know about the quarantine and the hassel of adding new hens to the flock. So far this morning Sybil has been out of jail for 2 hours and has not gone into the nesting box. I figure I have a 2 week window before this happens again.

 

[hoosierhens101]

This made me laugh! I love the name change! It sounds like he's unhappy or unsatisfied with just having one hen. Or could be bored. When my girls were broody my rooster went to the extent of leaving home and going to neighbors houses to find a hen or try to pick up one of theirs. I had to go get him alot and he wasn't happy until he got more entertainment. My roo is active he loves to take the girls to forage and find food. In my experience my girls weren't mature and interested in the room until about 4 1/2 or 5 months of age. If possible I would find him more girls so he will leave the children alone. My roo has 2 hens right now and 4 chicks that he takes care of and he doesn't bother the chicks in that way. One of the chicks is even showing to be a possible roo and he doesn't bother him or try to get him out of his flock.

Sybils two personalities are Broody Trudy and Rosie, short for rotisserie, because i bought her for $5 lol

 

[Trish1974]

Agree with Redhead Rae.

 

[hoosierhens101]

This made me laugh! I love the name change! It sounds like he's unhappy or unsatisfied with just having one hen. Or could be bored. When my girls were broody my rooster went to the extent of leaving home and going to neighbors houses to find a hen or try to pick up one of theirs. I had to go get him alot and he wasn't happy until he got more entertainment. My roo is active he loves to take the girls to forage and find food. In my experience my girls weren't mature and interested in the room until about 4 1/2 or 5 months of age. If possible I would find him more girls so he will leave the children alone. My roo has 2 hens right now and 4 chicks that he takes care of and he doesn't bother the chicks in that way. One of the chicks is even showing to be a possible roo and he doesn't bother him or try to get him out of his flock.

So from your experience, my pullets will not be interested in the Roo for 2-3 more months. It might be easier to integrate a few more hens than go thru this 2 or 3 more time with Sybil. Maybe I can trade someone who wants a broody hen.

 

[Redhead Rae]

10 weeks is a little young to be taking on the attentions of a full grown rooster. At 16 weeks, I would feel more comfortable with him trying even if they aren't willing because they will be almost fully grown and won't get hurt.

Does that make sense?

 

[Peaches Lee]

I agree with Rae, these pullets are too young to be with an adult rooster. If you can try to separate that would be best.