Mate before crowing? Dig the older chicks?

[MommaBee]

So here is my question: Will a young Roo try to mate with an older hen right off the bat? And can a Roo successfully mate before crowing?

I ask because we just hatched some really fun breeds. I know some will be Roos and we plan on finding them homes or eating them one they are of crowing age. Even though we live in the country, I think our neighbors would prefer if we got rid of them. We already have a flock of 7 hens, who are friendly and great egg layers. I would love to hatch some of their eggs, by placing one of our "just hatched roos" in with them once he is old enough. I have read as early as 14 week? Thought it might be worth a try before having to get rid of the roos, especially if we get a good natured one. Thoughts? Experience?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Ok, a male bird is called a cockerel until he is a year old, and then he's a cockbird or rooster, if you wish.

Depending on the breed, a cockerel will begin trying to crow long before he can successfully mount. No, he won't start with the older hens as they typically will have absolutely none of that. Remember the pecking order rules everything. A mature hen will not accept a young cockerel and will often terrorize him if he even looks at her sideways.

He'll generally start mounting practie at or about 18 weeks of age, depending on breed and depending on where HE stands in the pecking order. He will normally try to experiment with young pullets of 18 or 19 weeks, if they are coming into age.

As he gets better at his technique, his accuracy will improve and yes, it is not uncommon for a young cockerels, as young as 24 weeks to be quite successful in fertilizing the pullets of a similar age. He's got to establish himself as the flock leader before older hens prefer he earn his stripes.

The more he crows, generally, the more he is signalling his territory and claims to leadership. So he will get louder and louder. Underling cockerels refrain from claiming the territory and the flock and thus don't always do a lot of crowing unless they wish to take on the leader and replace him.

You could tell your neighbors that as soon as you've gotten the fertile eggs you want, you will be dispatching him. They might have to put up with him for 4 months, however, to complete the process above.

Also, do not be in a rush to gather pullet eggs, even though they may be fertile. Wait for the eggs to grow in size. This gives the proper time for development of both the pullet and the cockerel. His aim will be better, assuring a higher rate of fertile eggs, and their eggs will be larger assuring a healthier size shell to grow an embryo.

Hope that helps.

 

[what did I do]

Ok, a male bird is called a cockerel until he is a year old, and then he's a cockbird or rooster, if you wish.

Depending on the breed, a cockerel will begin trying to crow long before he can successfully mount.  No, he won't start with the older hens as they typically will have absolutely none of that.  Remember the pecking order rules everything.  A mature hen will not accept a young cockerel and will often terrorize him if he even looks at her sideways.

He'll generally start mounting practie at or about 18 weeks of age, depending on breed and depending on where HE stands in the pecking order.  He will normally try to experiment with young pullets of 18 or 19 weeks, if they are coming into age. 

As he gets better at his technique, his accuracy will improve and yes, it is not uncommon for a young cockerels, as young as 24 weeks to be quite successful in fertilizing the pullets of a similar age.  He's got to establish himself as the flock leader before older hens prefer he earn his stripes.

The more he crows, generally, the more he is signalling his territory and claims to leadership.  So he will get louder and louder.  Underling cockerels refrain from claiming the territory and the flock and thus don't always do a lot of crowing unless they wish to take on the leader and replace him.

You could tell your neighbors that as soon as you've gotten the fertile eggs you want, you will be dispatching him.  They might have to put up with him for 4 months, however, to complete the process above.

Also, do not be in a rush to gather pullet eggs, even though they may be fertile.  Wait for the eggs to grow in size.  This gives the proper time for development of both the pullet and the cockerel.  His aim will be better, assuring a higher rate of fertile eggs, and their eggs will be larger assuring a healthier size shell to grow an embryo.

Hope that helps.

 

This is very well said.

 

[Montana-Hens]

Though they are going on their 4th week. I had a hen from last year's group somehow fly over the fencing and get into this year's batch of chicks. I had a couple of little roos standing tall and challenging her. I was thinking oh no....already. But this post has given me a sense of relief.

 

[MommaBee]

Ok, a male bird is called a cockerel until he is a year old, and then he's a cockbird or rooster, if you wish.

Depending on the breed, a cockerel will begin trying to crow long before he can successfully mount. No, he won't start with the older hens as they typically will have absolutely none of that. Remember the pecking order rules everything. A mature hen will not accept a young cockerel and will often terrorize him if he even looks at her sideways.

He'll generally start mounting practie at or about 18 weeks of age, depending on breed and depending on where HE stands in the pecking order. He will normally try to experiment with young pullets of 18 or 19 weeks, if they are coming into age.

As he gets better at his technique, his accuracy will improve and yes, it is not uncommon for a young cockerels, as young as 24 weeks to be quite successful in fertilizing the pullets of a similar age. He's got to establish himself as the flock leader before older hens prefer he earn his stripes.

The more he crows, generally, the more he is signalling his territory and claims to leadership. So he will get louder and louder. Underling cockerels refrain from claiming the territory and the flock and thus don't always do a lot of crowing unless they wish to take on the leader and replace him.

You could tell your neighbors that as soon as you've gotten the fertile eggs you want, you will be dispatching him. They might have to put up with him for 4 months, however, to complete the process above.

Also, do not be in a rush to gather pullet eggs, even though they may be fertile. Wait for the eggs to grow in size. This gives the proper time for development of both the pullet and the cockerel. His aim will be better, assuring a higher rate of fertile eggs, and their eggs will be larger assuring a healthier size shell to grow an embryo.

Hope that helps.

YES, that does help! Thank you so much for telling me more about this subject, since I have no experience in it! This is VERY helpful! Looks like it will not be as easy as I thought.

Yes, I was hoping a cockerel would try to mate with the older girls because of their eggs size over the pullets egg size. Looks like I will have to wait.

And I am glad to hear that all the cockerels will not all be crowing together. I might get to keep them longer in that case. I was worried about them hurting or challenging one another. We have one clear front runner already as a flock leader and they are only 2 weeks old. He is very aggressive towards us even as a chick. Wondering what I should do with him? If he does not get friendlier we might have to get rid of him earlier so that a friendlier leader will emerge. Or is that a good idea? Maybe all leaders are that aggressive? Like I said we only have experience with hens.

THANK YOU again for taking the time to answer my question. Very good information!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Cockerels that are raised together do not normally fight. They are quite used to one another.

Your plan isn't a bad one. Just take a calendar and do some planning. With relatively fast maturing breeds, the cockerels hatched in March will be fairly profficient at breeding by November or December. Your "leader" will arise. I'd personally put the lesser males into the freezer at about 20 weeks.

If the neighbors can deal with a few weeks of noise, you can pull this plan off. Just work it through in your mind and on the calendar. Realizing that your chicks would likely hatch at Christmas time. Take that into consideration as well. LOL

Then, see how this all unfolds.