Why doesn't my Peahen accept my Peacock and let him mate her.

[smcginnis]

I had 7 eggs a couple of months ago, but the hen wouldn't set on them, so I took them to an agrivet, (how they say it in the Philippines), store and had them put in an incubator. After about 34 days, I gave up and excepted the fact that none were going to hatch. My cock has been displaying to the hen every day, three or four times a day, for 10 or 15 minutes at a time. The hen just walks away from him like he isn't even there. Is there any thing I can do to help him with his courting? I give them a feed mix which is about 17.5 percent protein, and they all get there favorite treat, about 20 or 30 super meal worms a day, which is also high in protein. All help will be appreciated.

Thanks, Steve

 

[appps]

What breed are they? And how old is the rooster?

My hens never seemed to have any say in the matter. The rooster mated whether they were interested or not.

 

[aart]

Did you ask the agrivet if the eggs were viable...do they do any candling along the way?
Confused as to how this would work...they have big incubators and hatch for folks who don't have incubators?

Have you actually looked at the yolks to see if they're fertile before setting to incubate?
You can check while you make breakfast, IMO that's the easiest way to know for sure.

This thread shows a plethora of examples of fertile and non-fertile yolks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

 

[smcginnis]

I didn't know you could check to see if they were fertile before you put them in the incubator. Any way, yes they candled them at about 2 weeks in the incubator, and said that only one was viable, but I asked them to just leave them all in any way. Yes they have 3 large incubators where they incubate eggs for lots of people raising chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail, etc. etc. They gave the eggs back to me, but I haven't opened any of them. I just want to get more eggs and try again.

Thanks, Steve

 

[bobbi-j]

You can't check eggs that you're going to put in the incubator for fertility, but you can check other eggs from the same hen to see if they are fertile. If so, chances are good that her other eggs are fertile.

 

[smcginnis]

Oh OK. But my eggs are Peafowl eggs, and they only lay so many, and I don't want to waste any. Not like a chicken, where you get one every day. hahaha. I thought I posted this under the Peafowl part of the forum. Let me see if I change change the post to Peahen.

Thanks, Steve