18 weeks trying to mate 10 week old

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

I’m sure this has been discussed before but for some reason I have a really hard time using the search engine on BYC.

Nothing ever comes up of relevance to what I’m trying to search. I usually wind up googling what I’m looking for then actually getting close to an article on BYC that I need.

Anyways I have a 18 week old RIR that I saw try to pin down and mate with a 10 week old pullet. I really wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it. I’ve seen him continue to harass the chicks even though they have been free ranging together for a month now. But after seeing him try to pin her I’m unsure what I should do?

Our ratio of cockerels to Pullets is a little heavy. We do need to eliminate some cockerels but I want solid reasons why they aren’t “good enough” before deciding their fate. Basically I don’t want to decide at random and end up with some unsavory boys that aren’t very good to the flock.

Our lead cockerel is great. He only mates with our ready pullets that are also 18 weeks, he’s a good “daddy” to the smallest ones (10 weeks) and he’s a dang good crower. Everyone gets along including the additional cockerels - everyone has found their place basically.

I’m just not sure what to do with this one trying to mate the 10 weeks and he’s also attempted to mate the 18 week ones as well but our lead quickly shut that down.

Is it just because of the unbalance in cockerels to pullets? He just picked one that was easier to grab and not of interest to the lead cockerel? Is this bad chicken behavior?
I’m thinking of chicken for dinner so just want to make sure before making a bad call?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Just fast to mature. Do you have any adult hens you can put him with? They'll teach him manners. Just make sure he has places to get away if the picking becomes too much?

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

Just fast to mature. Do you have any adult hens you can put him with? They'll teach him manners. Just make sure he has places to get away if the picking becomes too much?

No this is my only flock.
We only have 4 Pullets that are “sexually mature” and are 18 weeks.
The remaining 9 Pullets are only 10 weeks old.

 

[MysteryChicken]

No this is my only flock.
We only have 4 Pullets that are “sexually mature” and are 18 weeks.
The remaining 9 Pullets are only 10 weeks old.

How is he with the Pullets that are laying? Are you able to separate him from the 10 week olds?

 

[MysteryChicken]

18 weeks is actually quite young to start laying. Are they high Production hybrids like Isa Browns, or Golden Comets?

 

[NatJ]

Our lead cockerel is great.

We only have 4 Pullets that are “sexually mature” and are 18 weeks.
The remaining 9 Pullets are only 10 weeks old.

I would keep the lead cockerel that you like, and butcher the other one. Two cockerels might be too many for 13 pullets even when they are older, and two cockerels is definitely too many for the 4 oldest pullets right now.

Unless there is a specific reason to keep this male as well? (If he has specific traits you want for breeding purposes, or if you really like having a spare, or something like that.)

If you really want to keep this male too, you may need another pen, so you can keep this fellow separate from the younger pullets until they have a chance to mature. Also, consider what will happen if you raise chicks in future years. Either this male will learn to behave properly toward younger females, or he will not, but you won't know unless you try it. You already know the other male is fine with the young females.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

How is he with the Pullets that are laying? Are you able to separate him from the 10 week olds?

No everyone free ranges together.
He tries to pin and mount the Pullets of laying age but our lead cockerel breaks it up.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

18 weeks is actually quite young to start laying. Are they high Production hybrids like Isa Browns, or Golden Comets?

One of our 18 week olds just started laying today. She is a California Tan.

 

[MysteryChicken]

One of our 18 week olds just started laying today. She is a California Tan. View attachment 2805378

Never heard of a California Tan. Sounds like another Production hybrid, so that explains the early laying.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

I would keep the lead cockerel that you like, and butcher the other one. Two cockerels might be too many for 13 pullets even when they are older, and two cockerels is definitely too many for the 4 oldest pullets right now.

Unless there is a specific reason to keep this male as well? (If he has specific traits you want for breeding purposes, or if you really like having a spare, or something like that.)

If you really want to keep this male too, you may need another pen, so you can keep this fellow separate from the younger pullets until they have a chance to mature. Also, consider what will happen if you raise chicks in future years. Either this male will learn to behave properly toward younger females, or he will not, but you won't know unless you try it. You already know the other male is fine with the young females.

We actually have 5 cockerels total right now
I do know it’s too many but my MIL basically told me to wait it out to pick the best and cull the rest. But that was when we had more Pullets before a dog massacre happened. Otherwise we have culled 1 bringing us down to 5 and it was the other RIR and he started attacking our daughter so he had to go.