hen matting hen

warmblood · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:03 pm

My australorp pullet is matting all the other pullets. Does this mean she is getting broody? I hope so, cause I want to get some fertile eggs for her.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:04 pm

Do you have a rooster running with your pullets?

warmblood · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:08 pm

No, no rooster, just eight pullets.....

Peter16 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:10 pm

Sounds like she has taken the roll of rooster, many girls do this in an all female chook house, some even start to crow :shock:

i forget how to make them stop it but someone else will know

County Lodge · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:22 pm

If you don't have a rooster you will not have fertile eggs. so it won't matter how broody your girls get they need a boy to do the deed.

That is why your pullet is doing what she is doing. She is taking on the role of rooster with the other pullets.

If you are lucky enough for one of them to go broody and you want chicks see if you can get hold of some fertile eggs from someone that way you can have chicks without the worry of having a rooster around.

I find the girls go broody a lot quicker with a biy around.

jo-chicken · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:42 pm

Ok now this will sound really wierd.... but, problem number one; solution - when your pullets sit down ready to be mated walk up and push down on their back firm but not too forcefully, then move away. If you do this the pullet will then stand up and ruffle feathers as if she has been mated by rooster. The Australorp may get the idea that you are taking on that role now, take care to make sure she has her fair share. This will more than likely sort out the mounting problem (Australorps are prone to this). Your pullets should go broody soon enough and then you can get some fertile eggs from somewhere. Leave some eggs in next to encourage this. Mounting the others is not a sign that she is going broody simply what was mentioned earlier being the lack of rooster.

Stt · **Joined:** Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:01 pm **Posts:** 3006

some nice info there jo-chicken and cl

oh and peter :lol:

warmblood · **Posted:** Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:45 am

Thankyou for all the information to date, its very helpful. I will be getting some fertile eggs as soon as one of them goes broody, so I will be looking around the southern highlands area for these, if anyone knows anyone would appreciate it.

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