Baby roosters, how young is too old?

[Fred's Hens]

They don't breed until they are old enough to do so, they really aren't "babies" at that point. It's all just nature.

That said, separating the cockerels, if one isn't breeding, is an acceptable practice. If one isn't actually breeding purposefully, having them separated isn't all that unusual.

 

[Avianman]

Unless you have a moral objection to them "getting together", it's not a big deal. I find that once you separate the boys for a day or two you just create a problem when you put them back together - I'm talking full on seventies style free love, only more aggressive....might as well hang a "Studio 54" sign on the coop. Keep them together though, and it seems there is a little "hanky pinky", but they are much nicer about it all, and then the boys fight a lot less, too!

My bantams generally wait until they are 5 or 6 months old with hens they grew up with. They'll try early if it is a new hen. Almost as if they look at the hen they were raised with and say "eeewww...but she's my friend!". My Cochins will start earlier, 4 to 5 months, but without much success.

 

[akchick76]

Hahaha! No, no moral objections! No, for my first attempt with chickens, I just don't want them to end up like bunnies In the sack and me be overrun with chickens. I just wanted to get an idea of when they needed to find a new home.

Too funny.....

 

[Overoberyl]

Hahaha! No, no moral objections! No, for my first attempt with chickens, I just don't want them to end up like bunnies In the sack and me be overrun with chickens. I just wanted to get an idea of when they needed to find a new home.

Too funny.....

Your hens will only sit on eggs if they are broody, which only happens periodically, more or less often depending on the breed. Otherwise, they will lay their eggs and walk away, and in that case even if you have a rooster in with them, you won't end up with unwanted chicks. Just collect the eggs daily, and even if you have a broody hen, you can easily control the population. On the other hand, if you aren't planning to have a rooster, taking the boys out won't do any harm either, though I personally like to have a roo in with my girls, sort of completes the flock dynamic I think, but lots of hens live quite happily without a roo around.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

May not be right but this is my 2 cents worth. My little rooster started mating hens at 11 weeks old. He's a White Leghorn.

 

[Avianman]

May not be right but this is my 2 cents worth. My little rooster started mating hens at 11 weeks old. He's a White Leghorn.

Insert disapproving "WHat's the world coming to with children having children" quote here....

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Insert disapproving "WHat's the world coming to with children having children" quote here....

I know... He was only 11 weeks old and she was a good 2 years! My Word!

 

[keithaxis]

I was glad to see your comment about the young rooster and 2 year old hen. I have 23 chicks that are 13.5 weeks old. One is a rooster, he is a cuckoo maran and started crowing at 12 weeks. He has not shown any sign of trying to mate. But he did crow a lot longer this morning so maybe his testosterone is building up.
My question is will my five adult hens ever let the young rooster mate with them? He already has 22 partners his own..four of the five adult hens quit laying eggs a week after he started crowing, are the adult hens waiting for some action from my young cuckoo maran roster?
...​

 

[Fred's Hens]

A young cockerel must earn his way into the flock breeding hierarchy. Many mature hens will slap the snot out of any fresh cockerel who dares to try it. As always there are exceptions.

 

[Ridgerunner]

A good flock master will dance before trying to mate, find food for his ladies and see that they get the best parts first, watch for predators, assure all eggs are fertile, and keep peace in his flock such as by breaking up fights. Some hens will squat for practically anything in spurs, but many, especially if they are mature, demand the rooster live up to his responsibilities before they grant him any favors.

Many young roosters are so hyped up on hormones they are only thinking of the assuring eggs are fertile and ignore the rest of the things that will win the respect of the hens. A good mature hen will remind him. I’ve even seen them knock a young rooster off a willing pullet just to let him know he has not lived up to his responsibilities.

The good news is that most cockerels do eventually mature enough, sort of growing into the role of flockmaster. I’ve had some (really rare) do that before they are 20 weeks old. I’ve had some take almost a year. A lot of it depends on the personality of the cockerel and the personality of the mature hens.