Does a roo mate with a pullet only when they're ready to lay?

[AK Michelle]

Woo Hoo, Good news!!!

All the boys have been chasing my Mille Fluer girls and now they're splitting thier attention with the Dorking girls. That must mean eggs are (FINALLY) in my future.

 

[gocrow77]

I think it does depend on the experience of the rooster. I have some young silkie cockerals that try to grab whatever/whoever happens by - even other males. I have a LB roo that has not paid much attention to my younger pullets and some of them have even sounded off the egg song a time or two. I think my big guy knows what he is doing, and the young silkie cockerals are just hormonal. When Big Boy starts courting and mating the pullets I'm sure I'll have eggs in a short time.

 

[Amy's Animals]

My silkie roo was already mating with my silkie pullet about a month or 2 before she started to lay, she didn't have much of a choice

 

[meadowsong]

I took it as a sign, mine just started mating with the hens last week and we just started getting eggs. I figure, in most cases anyways, that animals won't mate with another unless they are capable of producing offspring. Who knows if it's right or not

 

[Kiwi Chicky]

I'm hoping your anwsers are right

I just caught my Roo doing the nasty with one of the barred rock hens - who haven't laid any eggs since they moved in.

So fingers crossed I'll get some purebreed eggs soon