Is 10 weeks old early for bantams mating?

[Cindy in PA]

I thought that bantams (Plymouth Rocks) matured at the same rate as LF. The roosters have been grabbing hens by the head for about a week. Today one mounted a hen & did the deed. Isn't this awful early to be mature? I've noticed some of the hens are getting red in the face also. So what is anyone's experience with bantams?

 

[shelleyd2008]

I have had several bantam cockerels that started crowing at 8-10 weeks, if they are old enough to crow, they are old enough to do other rooster-ly deeds. The girls probably aren't ready, but the boys are! The males mature faster than the hens do.

 

[Chooksaurus]

I had a bantam laying at ~17 weeks, which surprised the heck out of us because she was about 4 weeks younger than our 20.5 week RIRs and still beat them to laying.

 

[Cindy in PA]

They have been gargling for a few weeks and last week one seemed to do a real crow, but have been quiet this week. They can hear my other rooster crow, so would that make them more or less inclined to crow? I have 14 of these guys & all but one has to go soon! Thanks for the info.