How soon is too soon?

[Cluckgirl913]

I have four 11 week old buff Orpington pullets and one 8 month old EE Roo. I have had the Roo for about a month. They roost separately (Roo is in the barn and ladies in the coop) but they have all free ranged together up to this point. Today I saw him try to mate with one of the pullets so I separated them. How old should the ladies be before I allow him access again?

 

[DobieLover]

If you want to avoid the feather pulling and screaming associated with a cockerel ready to mate and pullets that are NOT, wait until they start laying or are very close. I would give the girls another 6 weeks or so. You can fence off an area for him so he is still within sight of the pullets. If they start hanging around him and squatting for him, they are ready.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes, wait until at least some of them are beginning to lay.