Mating but no eggs yet?

[Farm Chic]

I have an old english bantam rooster who has mated with my old english hen and 2 of my dorkings. I don't have any eggs yet. should I be concerned? is this normal? they are about 4 1/2 - 5 months old. the hens are a little red in the face.

 

[MissPrissy]

Mating has nothing at all to do with egg laying.

Having NEVER been penned with a rooster the hens will still lay eggs.

The average age is 18 - 24 weeks for pullets to begin laying. Remember this is an average time not one written in stone. some hens can be much older before they ever lay an egg. I have had some go 32+ weeks before the first egg was laid.

 

[speckledhen]

I've even had seven week old cockerels do a pretty good imitation of mating the little pullets, who scream bloody murder, LOL. Eggs are WAY off at seven weeks old.

 

[Farm Chic]

I should have expected that answer. I know that you don't need a rooster to lay an egg. what I was wanting to know was if the timing between the rooster that wants to mate meant that the hen must be ready to lay her eggs?

 

[MissPrissy]

No. A rooster will want to mate simply because she is female.

 

[Beekissed]

Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it....

Trying not to say anything of a derogatory nature about the males of any species

 

[rooster-red]

The average is 18-24 weeks of age, the rooster has no bearing on egg production at all.

 

[Farm Chic]

thanks, gotta love the male species