Selective breeding?

[Riven]

I was wondering if some chickens will only breed with mates they like and/or are fertile?

I have a bantam cochin hen who I love and adore, about three years ago she was sitting on a nest and a dog come into our property and attacked her, she abandoned her nest and never laid again. I thought the dog was why, but that winter we lost her mate... We have a new bantam cochin roo, but she's never laid again.

What made me think about this is that last week we got a new drake and one of my hen ducks started laying again, even though we had two drakes already. I've read that ducks can selectively breed, can chickens? I guess I always assumed that since laying hens will lay without a roo, all chickens would.

I'd love any insight here, if it's just a matter of a new roo, it's done! I miss babies from my favorite hen ( she is my only bantam cochin hen until some chicks we just hatched out this year, but I have seen him mount her )

 

[gocrow77]

I have heard it said on here over and over that hens do NOT need a roo to lay eggs. But.....I have three girls that seem to perpetuate that myth. I had them here for months, no eggs ( yes they were laying when I got them ). Then, I got my light brahma rooster, after a few weeks they integrated and he started mating with them - one girl layed an egg two days after the first time I saw them doing their thing. The other started laying within a few days of him adding her to his growing harem as well. I have another that came here a few weeks ago that has yet to lay. I have no doubt that when he begins breeding her ( if he can catch her - she's playing hard to get, lol ) she will begin laying again as well. I'd have to say I believe the myth somewhat.... I don't believe that MOST ( maybe 90% ) hens need a fella around but some do. Maybe the roo just makes them feel safer and less stressed out IDK. But it seems to be somewhat true for some hens - I seems to have stumbled onto a few of them, lol!

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I promise you, some will lay without a roo, even all winter!

But this is really interesting, anyway. Glad I stumbled over this post. Maybe the old timers weren't entirely wrong, after all. Maybe some need the roo's presence to kick start the egg laying hormones.

Really interesting. Glad you posted.

 

[Riven]

The thing with her is that she's almost always had a roo with her. I'm wondering if he's either sterile, or she just doesn't "want to mate with him"

She's a middle aged hen and should still be laying, but hasn't since two years ago now.

 

[gocrow77]

Yes, I would think you would still be getting at least an occasional egg from her. It's hard to say what may turn her egg machine back on, but I wish you luck!