Mating or mating games?

[jessica32]

I recently put my first rooster out with my flock. My rooster is a cross between a bantam and a standard chicken. He is just a litte bit smaller than my hens. They are all standard. My question is, can he mate with them? He is young yet, about 22 weeks. The pullet I raised him with is laying at this point. I see him trying to mate but, have never seen a chicken and rooster mate before. He only does the mating for a few seconds. I am wondering if a small rooster can mate with a larger hen physically. How long does it take to finish mating successfully? Is he just still young and practicing? I have a broody hen which I would like to put eggs under soon but, don't want to waste her time if there is no chance for chicks.

 

[95yj]

he'll get the job done, he also might be young and not entirely sure what he's doing. my cockerels are always a bit awkward when they get to that age and start mating.

 

[gritsar]

Chicken matings take literally five seconds. I'll bet he is getting the job done. Where there's a will, there's a way.

 

[jessica32]

Thanks for the replies! If he is getting the job done, is it okay to hatch out eggs from a young bird? I have read that it is best to wait until a year old. My broody girl is not quite a year and my male is only 4 and a half months old. Is it too soon?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The age of the broody hen does not matter. A broody hen does not lay eggs. It is the size of the eggs being hatched that matters. Young pullets normally lay smaller eggs which do not have enough room for the hatching chick to pip and zip. You may get some to hatch, but the hatch rate is normally not very good and the chicks that do hatch are sometimes weak or deformed. Sometimes things work out but the odds are against you.

If the pullet has been laying for three or four months, I would give it a go. Less than that, I'd probably have some concerns. I would not worry about the age of the rooster. If he is getting the job done, he is getting the job done.

Do you know how to check for the bull's eye?

Fertile Egg Pictures
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16008

 

[jessica32]

I don't know what the bull's eye is.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree with everything Ridge said.
The bullseye is what is used to describe what a fertile egg looks like, vs. a non-fertile. There will be a white dot (fertile and non-fertile), but if the egg is fertile, the white dot on the yolk will be surrounded by a white ring, forming a bullseye.
I know that speckled hen has posted pics of the difference, but can't find the thread.
Perhaps someone else has the link saved?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The link is in my post.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
See how close I'm paying attention to things, huh Ridge?