my chickens are about 14 weeks old, this morning I saw my rooster attempt to do his duty. Does this mean my girls are getting ready to lay or are the two unrelated.
If they are 14 weeks, they will not be laying eggs tomorrow. When they start to squat to let the rooster do his thing, that is a sign that they will lay soon. (Usually about 2 weeks).
I may be wrong here and someone with far more experience than I have can correct me BUT... when a hen squats for a rooster or person it has nothing to do with her getting ready to lay eggs. It's a submissive gesture only. It means that she is submitting to the rooster/person and showing that she understands they are top dog (so to speak - in this case top Roo). Depending on what breed she is she isn't likely to start laying eggs until she's around 20 weeks old or older. Sex-links have been known to start laying at around 16 to 17 weeks old. Of course, there are always some pullets that surprise everyone and lay really early and some that don't lay until they are 30 weeks old.
I read some info on a rare breed that matures at a very young age and was known to lay at 14-15 weeks. I think it was Egyptian Fayoumis.
And... so... at what AGE do roosters become "mature" ? Upon crowing? And when does a pullet graduate to a "hen" ??
Quote:Sorry, but you have to get in line. It's not your turn. My bbs Orpingtons are 25 weeks old and they still have not laid an egg., so... I'll let you know when you're due.
I don't have a roo yet (getting one next weekend) however, one of my girls started laying last week and it was about one week after she started her squatting thing. I don't think it has anything to do with each other except for age. She was 22 weeks old, so it was time to lay.
He is a cockeral. Little up and coming roosters will mount anything they can. They are practicing. It is probable that he is fertile at this age as well. The rooster mounting the pullets in no way reflects their egg laying. The pullets squatting in no way reflects their readiness for laying. It is all about Dominance and submission. Squatting by the pullets is their submission to the rooster. They will even squatt for their human that they feel is dominant over the flock.
Oh cool...all my girls squat for me when I enter their territory. That must mean Im the top girl in their eyes. lol