Rooster Q&A!!??!?!?!?!

[rosemarysugar]

Hi
I have a 4 month old roo, who has been chasing my hens and somebody claims ( i don't know how true this is) that they saw him grab one of my older hens neck feathers and jump on top of her. Is it a possibility that he is old enough to mate? What signs should I look for?

I am a newbie any roo info would help.
Thanks

 

[bobbi-j]

Yes, that does sound like hormonal cockerel behavior.

 

[DobieLover]

Yes, he is old enough to mate.
How old are your hens? Typically hens will not tolerate cockerel behavior of that sort and will put the boots to him.

 

[rosemarysugar]

Yes, he is old enough to mate.
How old are your hens? Typically hens will not tolerate cockerel behavior of that sort and will put the boots to him.

The hen are usually pretty mean to him, they are 2 years old today.

 

[DobieLover]

The hen are usually pretty mean to him, they are 2 years old today.

It sounds like he needs it. Let them deal with him. They will teach him good manners.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Having older hens school a cockerel in proper manners is the best thing you can do. I've found that cockerels raised with same age pullets often don't learn good breeding manners because the girls can't fight him off. If he is doing this to pullets of the same age, I would separate the pullets out and let the big girls teach him a thing or two.