Is rooster too young to mate??

[Folly's place]

It's 'chicken math' striking yet again! I now have THREE breeding groups here, and started with just one.
It's fun, sure, keep a cockerel this year, if one strikes you fancy, and turns out well. Then, get straight run chicks next spring, of your current favorite breed, and see what happens.
RIRs come in heritage/ show type, which are deep mahogany red, and in hatchery 'production red' types, which are orange. Do some research and see which appeal to you!
Roosters, at least of the common hatchery type, tend to be 'difficult' more often than roosters of some other breeds. Just be prepared!
Mary

 

[Beccazon]

Roosters, at least of the common hatchery type, tend to be 'difficult' more often than roosters of some other breeds. Just be prepared!
Mary

I wondered that. If roosters of "poor" lineage would be less amicable. If we continue to enjoy our flock, I will be looking into non-production birds as I prefer "heritage" when dealing with vegetables and plants and other now mass produced things. Nothing beats an heirloom tomato or rose! Surely the same goes for chicken. Thank you!

 

[Beccazon]

Yep.
....and breeding parent to offspring is safe for more than a few generations, sibling crossings can cause trouble sooner. Look up linebvreeding.

Using the same cock bird for a few years then upbringing in one for new blood is a good idea.

Perfect for me for now! Thank you!

 

[Folly's place]

I specifically meant the RIR cockerels, and didn't make that clear above.
I had difficulties with Speckled Sussex boys, and gave up on having a breeding flock of that breed, because 50% of my cockerels were jerks. I do love the SS hens, and have some in my flock.
Any breed's cockerel can be wonderful, or a pain. Selecting for good temperament is really important, IMO, but often isn't a consideration.

 

[Beccazon]

I definitely would prefer a non-jerk lol. Want to cast an opinion here? This is Pride, my who-knows-what-he-is. Thanks TSC. However, he is not only beautiful, he is relatively quiet and is my least jerkish cockerel. Him I will keep unless he changes. I have 2 "BSL" that turned out like him but the other is slower maturing and his comb has black in it. Behind you can see Lil Bit (Lil Sh** these days). The Leghorn turning fawn with a few black feathers here and there. Again thanx TSC. No more TSC if I want pure anything lol.

 

[Folly's place]

From a breeding for production standpoint, early maturity is a good thing. It can be tricky to know which cockerel is going to be a good boy until some time has passed, and it can pay off to wait longer to decide.
It's about the total package; lack of serious faults, temperament, size, close to breed standard if purebred, and flock goals. Then, color and cuteness. As a first time owner, temperament is most important! Usually, bad boys show themselves by five months of age, but I've had a couple that decided to be ugly their next spring. Not often, but it can happen.
Mary

 

[CindyinSD]

Thanks everyone! I just stumbled across this and I’ve been thinking whether I ought to put my little cockerels in with the big girls before they start causing trouble. At present they’re mostly facing off one another (not fighting at all) and occasionally chasing a pullet but not persisting. I’ve seen the two oldest actually intercede when one of the tommy poults has been harassing a pullet (seems promising). Their combs are bright red and they’re crowing (the two oldest) and while they do face off occasionally they also seem to like one another—laying down side by side in the shade of the tractor, etc.

I already moved three black tommies to the big birds’ tractor for tormenting a pullet. They’re doing very well now. (There are also three (comparatively huge) BBW tommies and a quartet of buff geese over there.) They got hazed a little at first, but nothing serious at all.

I’m thinking I may wait and see whether there’s any trouble since the cockerels seem peaceful for now. Is that wrong? Would it be better to move them before they start being naughty?