15 weeks old and mating

[junior67]

My cockerel started trying with some of my hens here and there about a month ago, they were all 16 weeks. The pullets would freak out big time. I noticed around 1-2 weeks ago that 2 of them seemed to submit to him when he made his advances instead of freaking out... I got my first egg over the weekend. I am thinking my other one that submits is also getting close. So far I have seen a few feathers fly off but that was more when they were freaking so he seems quite gentle with them, hopefully that continues. He doesn't try to mate them non stop either (yet) and seems to have backed off from those not ready. I will spend a few hours with them a day and I MIGHT see him try once maybe twice (if first didn't give him what he wanted) and many times I don't see him at all. They are now 20 weeks old.