At what age do Roosters mature sexually?

[kidd42]

We have an 18 week old bantam Modern English Game hen rooster, tonight he mounted our Austrolorpe who iis two years old and appered to have done the deed with her. Is he old enough to mate and fertilize her?

This is our first time with a roo, and are still adapting to having one in our flock, as the girls are.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Saltysteele]

yes, he should be.

however, just because if he "thinks" he did something, doesn't mean he has.

check the incubating section, there are a couple threads there with pix on how to tell if an egg is fertilized (for )

my full-size sussex is forever and a day trying to get it on with my banty hen. he thinks he has done it several times while i have watched (that sounds creepy), but her eggs are always infertile

it could happen.

from my limited amount of research on the subject, it would seem bantys have been bread down from "normal" sized chickens (selecting and breeding the smallest chickens), just as they have bred some beef to monstrous proportions

 

[Happy Chooks]

He is old enough. He may have tried, but may not have succeeded.

Here's how to see if an egg is fertile.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16008

 

[kidd42]

Thank you for the replies, I will be checking the eggs.

 

[Kelles]

Our 8 week old Orpington rooster (raised by a bantam who is in the photo) just mounted his "Mum".