EE Roo Mating BLRW Hen - Eggs Soon?

[Lucky Cluck]

Hello!
I have a 20-21 week old EE Roo mating my BLRW hens of the same age. From reading about both breeds, EEs can start to lay around 17 weeks, while BLRWs generally lay anywhere from 7-9 months. Does the fact that my EE Roo is mating the BLRW mean they are close to laying or that he is just feeling amorous? We are in SE Minnesota and days are getting colder and shorter, if that lends anything.

So, should I prep the nesting boxes? I want to avoid prepping them too early as I don't want them to be used for sleeping.

 

[Kelsie2290]

If the girls are cooperating and it is not just him chasing them, I would have nesting boxes at the ready, sounds like eggs are due pretty soon. If you are worried about them sleeping in them, can you close them up at night, kick out any birds that try to sleep in them?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If your pullets' combs, face, and wattles, are plumping up, and turning red then get ready for eggs. If the combs and faces are swiveled and pale what you are seeing is non consensual chicken sex. As a general rule a hen who is laying will not flee from a rooster, in my experience she may seek him out and even taunt him until he treads her.