Mating or seizures?

[Chuckkeeper]

X2, i agree. at 6 weeks my cockerel started mounting pullets of the same age, some just mature quickly

X2 squared, or is it x3 instead?
Anyway, I agree. I've a mature bantam cockerel at 9 weeks and a suspected cockerel not yet mature at 16 weeks. I try now to ignore age. I am sure it is mating (or at least behavioural in some way). I wonder whether this mating call is because he has successfully managed to mount/access something (your hand) whereas in reality he won't yet be able to do so with a pull/hen.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

I will be posting updates as he ages. He is 3 days shy of being one month old. I have photos of him from day to day and by 2 weeks his wings and tail were huge. By 3 weeks someone identified him as a cockerel. Almost a month and he is potentially trying to mate.

Hmm, does sound young. I presume you hatched yourself (and therefore confident with age?). I've been misled by breeders by as much as several weeks (I suspect)

 

[WallyBirdie]

Looks to me as though its bathing (on a hand? hmm) or attempted mating, yes.
Have you raised from birth? Does this only happen when you hold him? If so, I shouldn't & can't imagine it's anything to worry about.

Yes, I have raised him from hatch and he only exhibits the behavior when he is perched on my hand. I can avoid it or old him differently- but this had me baffled.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

Yes, I have raised him from hatch and he only exhibits the behavior when he is perched on my hand. I can avoid it or old him differently- but this had me baffled.

I think that the good news is (that in my opinion) you don't need to worry about medical.

 

[WallyBirdie]

Hmm, does sound young. I presume you hatched yourself (and therefore confident with age?). I've been misled by breeders by as much as several weeks (I suspect)

I found the egg in an old bale of hay I was cleaning out. I thought it was old or rotten and was going to dispose of it. There was a crack and no movement or sound. I peeled back a piece of shell and it started moving. With no known mother and stray cats and hawks and too many predators, I brought it in under a heat lamp to finish hatching.

I know it's age almost to the exact hour. I am not a breeder. I have day to day photos and I've been posting updates on here about the surprise baby named Haybale.

 

[WallyBirdie]

I think that the good news is (that in my opinion) you don't need to worry about medical.

Thank you so much. Question is what to do? Or not do?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Lol, he does look like he is trying to mate with your hand.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

I found the egg in an old bale of hay I was cleaning out. I thought it was old or rotten and was going to dispose of it. There was a crack and no movement or sound. I peeled back a piece of shell and it started moving. With no known mother and stray cats and hawks and too many predators, I brought it in under a heat lamp to finish hatching.

I know it's age almost to the exact hour. I am not a breeder. I have day to day photos and I've been posting updates on here about the surprise baby named Haybale.

How lovely. A treasured find. I hope you can keep him.

 

[WallyBirdie]

X2 squared, or is it x3 instead?
Anyway, I agree. I've a mature bantam cockerel at 9 weeks and a suspected cockerel not yet mature at 16 weeks. I try now to ignore age. I am sure it is mating (or at least behavioural in some way). I wonder whether this mating call is because he has successfully managed to mount/access something (your hand) whereas in reality he won't yet be able to do so with a pull/hen.

Thank you so much for this information. This is the first time I've raised a single chick, so without others to compare I have been keeping an eye on every little change, paranoid for its health and development.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

Thank you so much. Question is what to do? Or not do?

Perhaps discourage the handling (or the aspect of handling which seems to initiate this behaviour). It could be a problem when he's fully grown. Other than that, enjoy having such a friendly roo!