Why does my hen not like roosters? Plus Very Porus egg.

[Teresaann24]

I have a little hen who was with a rooster before she grew up with him.

About 2-3 weeks ago I added 2 new hens to the pen and she didn't take to them very well so I removed her and have been letting her free range.

I am now wanting to put her back with a rooster but am not having much luck.

She is fine in the pen with him but as soon as he trys to mate her she runs and jumps and gets so bent out of shape today she end up hurting herself on something trying to escape him.

He is not rough with his hens he is a good boy so I do not understand it.

She has been laying now for about 4 weeks.

What can I do or am I at a loss for this girl liking a roo?

ETA: Also she is laying a very Porus egg what is the cause and can I give her anything to help it?

 

[Davaroo]

I suggest you let her be.
You know, we think they must do this or that but they are living things and dont always conform. As long as she is getting on, Id just leave her.

 

[Teresaann24]

so you think it is best to just leave her be?

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Well, yeah. I mean what can you actually do to make her WANT to be mounted, clawed and mated by a ruff and randy roo? If I understand you, there are only 2-3 hens for the one rooster. That is going to make it tough for all of them - the general rule of thumb is 10-12 hens per cock. His ardor is hardly phased with that small harem.

Taken individually, chickens are pretty much all the same. But once in the small flock, the dynamics change. She may not be breeding material, even if he is persistent, and it can go badly for her in the presence of so few other femmes.

As you've noted, shes already gotten hurt trying to evade him. If she just will not take him, give her some places to hide from him and leave her be.

Once you do that, it should help the other hens, as well. It just may allow them to keep a few feathers on their own backs.

 

[Teresaann24]

Thanks for the info.

I don't always keep my hens with roo's only for breeding for about 7 days and then they have their own places for about 2-3 weeks untill I start seeing infertile eggs.

I think you are right about her I think she just wants to be a Loner. She does not want to take up with hens nor roo's she is still a fav hen of mine and of she is a silkie so I think its best if maybe she be a broody.

What about the Pouros eggs?

 

[Davaroo]

Im not much for that sort of thing. Typically a loose shelled egg - porous - implies a lack of calcium, but that isnt the only possibility.
There could be physiological issues of which we know nothing.
About all I can say is that you ensure a feeder of oyster shell, chalk or crushed mortar is available to her,

 

[Teresaann24]

She gets oyster shells and is free to her at anytime as well as all my hens are. I am not having that problem with any other hens.

 

[teach1rusl]

Two of my hens reacted badly to the rooster I had. One would try her best to get away from him, and the other would fight him off. I ended up rehoming the rooster, as I didn't need fertilized eggs. The girl that would run away seemed really scared of him; her feathers were thinning quite a bit because it would get rough when she would struggle to get away from him. The one that would fight him ended up with a bloody comb. My egg production decreased. I'm saying that because I think stress too, not just lack of calcium, can affect egg production and quality. So I agree to just let her be and don't try to breed her.

 

[Teresaann24]

thank you all for the information!