18 week Brahma rooster mating behavior

[Nicky S]

Got myself into a bit of a situation. Of my six girls, one - the Brahma- turned out to be a boy. This is an issue in itself because a) I’m not allowed roosters b) I don’t want fertilized eggs. We are going to try a hormone implant tomorrow to hopefully modify the crowing (I keep him inside at night so as not to wake the neighbors!), and I’m hoping it will also take away the urge to mate. As background info: we love this rooster to pieces and would be heart broken to re-home him b) I understand fertilized eggs won’t develop into chicks unless incubated, but it makes me feel weird to eat them (I’m vegan and got chickens so I could comfortably eat eggs from happy chickens). Anyway, two things have been happening the last few days. First my austra white has been squatting when she sees me sometimes, and in general the girls have become easier to handle (white austra, Orpingtons, australorp and Wyandotte). Secondly, the Brahma rooster has started jumping on top of some of them in what looks like an attempt to mate. My question is, do I need to worry about fertile eggs now? Nobody has started to lay yet but I believe it might be soon for some of them. My gut says he’s just testing the waters, but I really have no clue. Also, is it likely that anyone might get broody in the near future? I might feel better about the eggs if they were going to be left alone anyway. Please don’t judge me, I know it’s an odd situation / view point but it’s where we are at! And if anyone has tried an implant I’d love to hear how it went!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If he is successfully breeding, yes, the eggs will be fertile from the get him as to if they'll go broody right away, who knows. Some do, some don't, even in the same breeds

 

[Aunt Angus]

As a Buddhist who doesn't take lives, I get your concerns. I consulted a Lama who assured me that the fertilized eggs are ok for collecting/consumption if the hens choose not to incubate. He also said that not all eggs will be fertile. Not knowing which are fertile and which atenot means that I would not knowingly be taking a life. He added that my reasons for caring for chickens was noble enough that it negated any karmic harm that might come from eating fertilized eggs (and, of course, he reminded me that there are no hard and fast rules in our religion that says eating fertilized eggs is a sin).

I don't know if that helps you, but it sure helped me!

 

[Nicky S]

Thank you - that is certainly a lot of food for thought and that’s the direction I’m leaning towards. Whilst I am not of any religion, I do care deeply about animal lives, and this whole thing has been quite the dilemma!