Do roosters know which hens are about to lay?

[froggie71]

Just wondering, because this seems to be what I have noticed. I saw our rooster doing the deed with our BO and then she was the first to lay an egg. Then I saw him with one of our LB and then I saw her lay an egg. Seems like more than a coincidence.

 

[Wynette]

Coincidence. Definitely.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Well.......once upon a time, I would have claimed a it was all by chance, but I have just got started again with chickens about 6 months ago, so I am finally starting to see a few eggs. Most of my girls are still too young to lay. The pullets with the bright red combs are the ones that are laying and the ones with the pink combs are not yet ready. I see my 2 roosters performing their intended purpose only with the red combed pullets. They don't seem interested in the others.....its like they know.

 

[Damummis]

I have seen my roo show off to the 6 laying hens. He is trying with the 11 young ones that are 5 weeks but no eggs yet.

In other words I don't know the answer to your question but I am just as curious.

 

[TexasVet]

I've never seen any of my roosters try to mate with a pullet that wasn't at or near laying age. They know better than we do when a hen is "grown."

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.ChickenTrackin.com

 

[worthy vessel]

I have experienced some similar behavior in our flock... as the chickens were laying, the roosters would mate with them and eventually they all were laying and the roosters were all mating with them... they were VERY busy!!!

NOW... here's the wierd part.... the chickens stopped laying and the roosters are NOT mating any of the chickens... except this one rooster I have goes across the dirt road to my neighbors house where she has a flock of chickens with no roosters and he is mating her chickens... when he comes back into our yard (or stays because her chickens are kept up for the day) he still does not mate any of our birds...

I have watched specifically for this as I have been trying to figure out---- and still am trying to figure out---- why these birds are NOT LAYING!! UGh@!!!!

Is there NO RELATIONSHIP to roosters mating and hens laying????

 

[HEChicken]

Quote:
Interesting....perhaps the red combs are sexy to roosters and the pink aren't?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
My roo quit mating the hens while they were molting. Molting = no eggs. My hens are laying again and he's back to mating. I think there's definitely a connection. He rarely mates my hen that only lays sporadically. He knows which are which.

 

[txchickie]

I believe there is a connection. My marans rooster is a busy man with my 3 marans girls that are laying. He wants nothing to do with the other 2

He doesn't even try to attempt it.

 

[froggie71]

These are interesting observations. At least I'm not feeling completely crazy for thinking the same