9 Week Old Buff Orpington Cockerel Trying to Mate? Is This Normal?

[GlicksChicks]

Today I was cleaning my chicken coop and watching my 9 week old chicks explore. As I was watching them, one of my 9 week old Buff Orpington cockerels seemed to try and mate with one of the 9 week old Buff Orpington pullets. He tried it twice.

What I saw was him grab the back of her neck with his beak and try to get on her back. He failed both times, she ran off. Both times he tried it with the same pullet.

Is it normal for a cockerel that young to try and mate with a pullet?

I am wondering if he saw our mature rooster doing that to the mature hens and he thought he could do it too. Or maybe they practice before they are actually able to fertilize any eggs.

 

[sourland]

In all species some are early starters.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I once had a cockerel successfully fertilizing eggs by like 3-4 months old. And no I didn’t have any older roosters at the time.

 

[MamaPoult]

It is fully normal for them to try. Mine were trying at 6 weeks! So yes, fully natural and normal

 

[MamaPoult]

I once had a cockerel successfully fertilizing eggs by like 3-4 months old. And no I didn’t have any older roosters at the time.

Wow! That's young!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Wow! That's young!

IKR!?!? I was like what the heck!?!? LOL He also crowed all the time soooo

 

[GlicksChicks]

In all species some are early starters.

True!

 

[GlicksChicks]

I once had a cockerel successfully fertilizing eggs by like 3-4 months old. And no I didn’t have any older roosters at the time.

Wow! I know that Buffs are supposed to be fertile by 4 months. That is what I have heard from another buff owner.

 

[GlicksChicks]

It is fully normal for them to try. Mine were trying at 6 weeks! So yes, fully natural and normal

Okay! Thank you! I just have never seen a rooster try that young

 

[ShrekDawg]

Wow! I know that Buffs are supposed to be fertile by 4 months. That is what I have heard from another buff owner.

Mine was an Andalusian I think but yeah, it depends on the individual lol