Rooster Behavior

[Lifeiseasy]

We came home one day with six chicks in a box. Three were supposedly female BOs and the other three were supposedly female RIRs. Time went by and we figured out we had six RIRs. After a couple of weeks, we found out one isn't even female! His name is Peep and he is 17 weeks old now. He doesn't crow, he doesn't have spurs, and he doesn't try to mate yet. My question is, around what age do production reds start all of this? I know every bird is different but a general idea would be great. He is really sweet and didn't even react when a hen tried to eat his tail feathers earlier .

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sexual maturity starts between 3-6 months in most roosters. Some rooster start their general shenanigans earlier than others, but most are crowing, and mating by 4-6 months.

 

[Lifeiseasy]

Sexual maturity starts between 3-6 months in most roosters. Some rooster start their general shenanigans earlier than others, but most are crowing, and mating by 4-6 months.

Okay thank you! I didn't know if he was just being slow or if that was normal.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I find the ones that mature early are often more trouble, so I prefer late bloomers. RIR are slower to mature than some other breeds generally.

 

[Lifeiseasy]

That's good to know. The chances of him staying sweet seem pretty good right now. He got out of our yard earlier and let me carry him back to his coop that was a good little walk around the fence. He didn't try to jump down or anything. He just let me carry him back and pet him.