Questions????---touchy subject!!!!!!!!

[chickenmomva]

Ok this is awkward but I just gotta know ...............My chickens are going on 13 weeks old so it wont be as long as it has been for eggs to come.........Questions is when will the rooster (we have one) visit the girls if you know what I mean I have notice alot of chasing around and alot of squawking and him running after them more so than usual and I just was wondering if anyone could tell me when he will do his business ( we have 10 girls) so that is alot of business to do.................I need to be prepared with my answer for my children who are 5 and 3 on what exactly they are doing............we told them with the dogs that the boy dog was being a pest and bothering the girls...........any help would be great or is there a website that explains it.................

 

[justusnak]

Well....at 13 weeks....the girls are not quite ready to lay....so I would think they will not squat for him...Just tell the kids, he is doing the chicken dance...to impress the ladies. As far as doing his "business" ... how old are the kids? Might be hard to explain that one. My grandson is 6..and he saw the roo service my hens....and when he asked...I told him....He was serviceing the hens so they can lay baby eggs. He was ok with that and never asked any further.

 

[soonerdog]

I would not put those young hens with an adult rooster!!!!

He may injure them and cause them to die. A hen is no where near laying age until 6-7 months, or better. Putting them in a pen with an adult rooster would be torture to these young hens. Why would you spend your money, time, and effort for your wonderful 10 healthy young hens and then place them in a jeopardizing situation?

In my opinion this would be too stressful for these young birds. Stress can cause your birds to be unhealthy. I would not do this to them.

Can you not isolate the ole' rooster for at least three more months before placing him with them? This would allow these hens the time they need to mature. Good luck with your birds.

Oh yea, I tell my little one they are wrestling.

 

[chickenmomva]

All chickens are the same age the rooster is not a adult please do not think I would put my chickens in jeporady I would not..........I know better than to do that...........they are all 13 weeks old even the rooster................I am a newbie but I am not stupid...........I guess next time I must be exactly specific about what I say..........

 

[4H kids and mom]

chickenmomva....I have children that are 7 (today is his birthday!) and 8 1/2. They "sort of" understand 'business as far as with humans and other animals, so they already get the idea that a boy chicken will "do his thing" (as my daughter puts it!) with the girl chickens so they can have baby chickens. Just tell your younger children that it takes a boy chicken and a girl chicken to make a baby chicken. You can tell them that the boy chicken 'sitting' on the girl chicken will make the girl chicken lay eggs with baby chicks in them. Be careful though! Kids are smart! If you dont explain it right, and they see the boy servicing the hens, they might decide that ALL eggs have baby chicks in them and refuse to eat them!

As far as your last post, take heart hun. Everyone has their own opinions here, and some of us dont always read the whole post or totally understand it if it isnt clear, before we answer. I myself have been known to skim through a post and reply, not realizing until later that I missed something. Happens to the best of us! We're all human...(Between you and me, if I die, I wanna come back as a chicken owned by someone on this forum! lol)

Good luck with your roos new found "game"!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Us folks in the know

use the term "Cockerel" for a male chicken under the age of a year.
That's what sent Sooner over the edge...Thanks for clarifying his age.
The cockerel may have his game on, but the pullets(girl chickens under a year old) are still too young to be interested.
Depending on the breed they may not be ready for 6 months.
Light breed hens (Polish, Ancona, Leghorn) should start laying around 20 weeks.
Heavy breed hens( EE, RIR, Orp) should start much later.

 

[chickenmomva]

Thank you for your support it was much needed! I know that with people that post on here that do not know what to do you all help but I didnt want to seem like I was stupid or ignorant b/c although we are new at this I love my Pullets and Cockeral very much and would never do anything to harm them or endanger them at all............I just needed some advice and we will handle the questions from the boys as they come...............thanks

 

[chickbea]

I have 4 pullets and a baby roo of about the same age, all hatched under my foster biddy in January. This is the most tolerant momma hen ever; despite the babies being about 14 weeks, she still mothers them, shows them things, and lets them follow her around. Most hens have tossed their babies out long before now!
Anyway, this is the age where a lot of posturing, both for sex and fighting, go on. Cockerels do seem to start this earlier, but my girls are already squatting for him on occasion. Of course, he is the typical randy teenager, and doesn't seem to have a firm idea of what exactly to do, or even what part of the girl's body upon which to commence operations. The younger girls are confused but tolerant, but my old hens give him a look that is just too funny!

 

[chickbea]

I didn't finish my previous post - sorry!
Coming from a rural/farming community, I have always felt that being matter-of-fact about animals and sex is the most prudent course. A 5 year old doesn't need the blow-by-blow details, but letting them know that it takes a male and a female to make a baby is fine. Depending on the roo, the act can be quick and fairly quiet, or quite nasty. Hopefully your roo will be a gentleman. You may need to reassure them that the hen is fine.

 

[soonerdog]

Chickenmomva, I am so sorry if I sounded harsh to you. Please forgive me.

I was just so afraid for your little hens! I did not intend to sound mean, but did want those hens to be treated correctly. I am relieved to know that your birds are all the same age. Thank you for re-posting and sharing this with everyone. I feel much better now knowing your rooster is a cockerel. You are doing a great job with your birds and are at the right place, BYC to get your information. I hope you don't think I am a mean ole' soonerdog, I was just trying in a desperate attempt to educate someone quickly that they were about to do "STUPID", as you put it. I jumped to a conclusion, and spottedcrow helped us to know why.......I think the key word I jumped on was ROOSTER. I now know you

your birds. Happy ending.

Sorry. :aww I will do better from now on. Lesson learned. I will try to slow down and read more carefully before I post something that sounds negative to anyone.