If a Pullet submits to a Rooster is she close to laying?

[temple1612]

Does a hen squatting for a roo mean she is close to laying? I have a 12 week old hen who I saw squatting for a roo of the same age. She was also in a nesting box with the same roo yesterday. 12 weeks seems really early.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

She is probably close to laying, it is fairly early, fast developer I guess

 

[temple1612]

She is probably close to laying, it is fairly early, fast developer I guess

Well, that's cool. The Rooster is already mounting my older hens too, but hasn't started crowing yet.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

When he gets , he'll let you know he's out there. lol

 

[lazy gardener]

I very much doubt if a 12 week old pullet is that close to POL. She may be submitting simply to avoid a fight that she knows she can't win. Is it possible that she's actually older than you think she is? She may also be frequenting the nest box to get away from him. Is she shuffling through the bedding and re-arranging it or is she just sitting in the boxes? What breed is she?

 

[temple1612]

I very much doubt if a 12 week old pullet is that close to POL. She may be submitting simply to avoid a fight that she knows she can't win. Is it possible that she's actually older than you think she is? She may also be frequenting the nest box to get away from him. Is she shuffling through the bedding and re-arranging it or is she just sitting in the boxes? What breed is she?

The Rooster I have is only 12 weeks old too, and have never been aggressive towards any of the hens. So I doubt he was trying to hurt her or fight her. She is definitely only 12 weeks old. She hatched on May 28th. She actually followed him into the nesting box and there was another 12 week old hen in one of the other nests at the same time too. She is a barnyard mix, but I was told she was most likely an Isbar. Here is a pic of her next to the rooster.

 

[chickens really]

Young Pullets like to pretend to lay eggs for weeks before they lay...They will check out the nest boxes...Your Pullets do not look ready to lay...Your Rooster is also playing house...Its normal behaviour as they mature...You have a few weeks to wait yet....