Cockerel trying to mate with pullet

[Star and eclipsa]

I have a cockerel that is ten and a half weeks old who is trying to mate with a pullet who is also ten and a half weeks and she hasn't started laying yet. I thought they didn't try to mate until the pulleys start laying?

 

[TattooedChicks]

Young cockerels flush with hormones will try to mate anything if given the chance. If he becomes too much for the very young pullets or starts to cause stress or injury, he may need to be separated until he starts to calm down.

 

[Star and eclipsa]

I don't want to separate them because they are so attached to eachother. They freak out if they get more than a few feet away from eachother. I don't want to put them through the emotional pain of being separated.

 

[TattooedChicks]

I don't want to separate them because they are so attached to eachother. They freak out if they get more than a few feet away from eachother. I don't want to put them through the emotional pain of being separated.

They will settle eventually, and sometimes we have to do what’s necessary as their keepers to ensure long term health and safety. If he does get out of control, it may be you’ll have to create a separate pen connected to theirs so they can see but not touch. Just watch out for injuries, feather damage or signs of stress.

 

[Star and eclipsa]

Ok, thank you! He has only tried to mate with her once or twice in the past few days, and there aren't feather damage or signs of stress. They are actually both perching on top of a cage I made with an old table and hardware cloth right as im typing this. They are supposed to stay inside of the cage on their comfy towel at night but its fine with me if they want to perch on top or jump out at night, as long as they don't poop on me while I sleep.