Can "Mr. Roo" actually do it?

[Gloria]

Hi everyone! I was just wondering if someone could tell me if my 4 month old "Mr. Roo" is actually capable of firtilizing (sp?) the hens eggs?

My grandbabies are ready for some more little ones. This is the first time we've had a roo. So I don't know if he even can yet. All though he has gotten pretty good at the "wing drop dance" with them and pulling out their feathers around the top of their little heads!

Also, do I just leave the eggs in the nest? How long should I leave them if no one want's to set on them? I don't have a bator right now. But thinking on Miss Prissy's ideas on that one. Have to get everything together first.

Any help would be great, Thanks!

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

Its been my experience that Roos are ready to do their part before the pullets are ready to start laying. But I would think 16 weeks is still a bit early.

 

[silkiechicken]

After the girls start to lay, let them go for a month or two so the eggs get a bit bigger before setting any. By that time the roo should know what he's doing. Whither or not the birds set though is all hormonal... not much you can do about it while some birds will never set.

 

[Gloria]

Ok, thanks guys for your help. I'll just keep watching my eggs in the frying pan! LOL "Mr. Roo is now at 17 weeks. MissPrissy has a great thread going on how to tell if the egg is fertilized or not. So I'm learning alot. Thanks again!

 

[MissPrissy]

I just cracked some pullet eggs from an 18 week old roo mating - Fertile! LOL

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

A four month old rooster is probably capable of fertilizing eggs, but the problem is that he isn't experienced.

Young cockerals who aren't fully sexually mature tend to injure hen's. They can also wreak havoc on their backs, by wearing them thin on feathering.

Think about a pre-pubescent male. Until a few years go by and he passes the raging harmon stage, its just mad chaos...

 

[Gloria]

Thanks Miss P, you've been so very helpful today. That's great to know! Now if you could only help me figure out how to hang these darn new mini blinds in my front room. My day would be great! LOL

 

[pbjmaker]

So when they decide they want to mate - will they go for "jail-bait"? Our 16 week old roo just did that wing drop thing and then chased down a 6 week old EE pulling a beak full of down. We thought he was doing that to show he was boss. He has been strutting his stuff a lot more this week and fluffing up. Our 16 week old unsexed RIR keeps hiding from him - they seem on the "outs" a lot this week. Makes me hope that they are both pullets...