21 week buff cockerels being spurned by hens

[Rick589]

Not to belabor the cockerel behavior discussions but I do have another questions regarding the hens. If the cockerels are attempting to mate yet are being refused by the hens at this point in their life, and they are all the same age, does this provide any indication that the hens may be on the verge of laying? Or, are the cockerels just horny young men acting like, well, horny young men.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Cockerel is a horny teenager and pullets will not be interested in him until after they start laying.

 

[Rick589]

Thanks for the reply. So, the cockerels behavior really can’t be considered when trying to anticipate when the hens would begin to lay? At 21 weeks I’m attempting to get a better feel for the timing. In the end I’m just engaging in a useless mental exercise.

 

[aart]

So, the cockerels behavior really can’t be considered when trying to anticipate when the hens would begin to lay?

It's a rare, and good, cockerel that leaves non laying females alone.

 

[WingItRanch]

Cockerels behavior won't tell you anything about when you will get eggs. But when you start seeing your pullets squat and accept the mating instead of running away, that will be a sign they are close to laying age.

If the cockerels are harassing the pullets too much, you may consider separating the males until the girls mature more. Males mature much faster than the females and they could be causing stress to the pullets. Stress sometimes has a negative affect on egg laying. Just a thought!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks for the reply. So, the cockerels behavior really can’t be considered when trying to anticipate when the hens would begin to lay?

That forced mating behavior has nothing to do with fertilizing eggs. It's hormone influenced domination behavior. The one on top is dominating the one on the bottom whether any eggs are involved or not.

At 21 weeks I’m attempting to get a better feel for the timing. In the end I’m just engaging in a useless mental exercise.

I feel for you but, yeah, they'll lay when they lay. There are many signs that indicate they might possibly be getting close to lay. The pullets squatting for the boys was mentioned. But even that is just a possible sign. It does not mean that they are soon going to lay, it just means they accept the dominance of the other. I had a 13 week old pullet willingly squat for a 13 week old cockerel. She was still a long way away from laying. Sometimes a male will mount a male (willingly). That's dominance, he is not going to lay an egg.

I understand you can't help it. I'm always curious myself, it's such a thrill when you finally see an egg. But combs and wattles turning dark red, them squatting, them exploring the nests, and other things are just signs they might possibly be getting close. Sometimes it can still take a while.