are my hens getting ready to lay?

[kylen2007]

I'm new to the chicken world and I have 6 jersey giants and 6 ameracaunas. One of my giants ended up being a roo. He started crowing a week or so ago and his mounting my hens. The only hens he will mount though are my ameracaunas. I know they mature faster than the giants because of their size. Could this be because they are getting ready to start laying? When he tries to mount them they run away. No one is "squating" for him that i have seen. They are just over 12 weeks and I know they dont typically lay until 16-20 weeks. Also a few of the girls are getting more and more red in the face.

 

[Percheron chick]

They still have a long way to go. I've never had an EE or ameraucana lay before 20 weeks. Most have been closer to 24 weeks. The cockerel is just picking the easier targets.

 

[kylen2007]

Ok. My jersey girls follow him around like he is king. You would think they'd be the easier target. They arely are more than a couple feet away from him.