Rooster

[ShanasCastle]

Hi everyone . I'm not sure that I'm posting to the right place or not but have a question regarding the rooster/hen relationship. I have 2-4 month old hens and the hubby was given a rooster of the same age as the ladies and the same breed as one of them. FYI rooster and hen are both NH Reds (white version). We are moving soon so my current setup is for pullets. I have two prefab (tiny), two nesting box coops that sit on top of their run. I've added a separate run for the rooster bc I'm pretty sure one of my young pullets (around 8-9 weeks) is a roo. I think my girls are too young to lay yet but the NH hen is now squatting when touched and she's CRAZY for this rooster! My oh my the sounds these two are making at each other

Anyway, yesterday was the first full day "together" and last night the roo was so pitiful when we locked up the coops. He wants to be with the girls. I don't want problems with my babies!! But, I was thinking of moving Bertha (NH hen) in with him to keep him company and well, bc she wants to. Is this a good idea? What's the risk or danger in placing them together if she's not ready to breed? Will it hurt her maturity into a good layer, trigger her to lay, or will everything just proceed as it should? I want to do what's best for all of them without any getting hurt. Appreciate any and all advice! Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have 2-4 month old hens and the hubby was given a rooster of the same age

FYI rooster and hen are both NH Reds (white version)

Do you have photos of your birds?
Do you have room to put them all together? That would be better if you are wanting one cohesive flock.
As for mating...it won't hurt her, there is no penetration in chicken mating. It sounds like your girl is low in pecking order and just submissive. That in itself may cause some problems if you separate her from the other pullets and plan to integrate her back later on. She may be bullied and/or kept from food.

If they can't all be together, then I would leave the pullets together. It won't kill the cockerel to be by himself. At only 2-4months old, he has a lot of growing up to do, as do your pullets.

I would really be interested in seeing your birds. New Hampshire only come in the color "red", as far as I know, there is not a white version.

 

[SueT]

If she's squatting for him, I think she's probably ready. My cockerel began mating w the 2 pullets his age at about 4-5 months, and they were squatting for him. They began laying eggs shortly after. The 7 older hens still haven't accepted him as a boyfriend, but some show signs of warming up to him. The 2 young girls just adore their guy, and stick to him like glue. I don't see signs of over mating, even with this current ratio which will surely change soon. I think your timing is probably just right, and putting them together should work out.

 

[Shadrach]

Do you have room to put them all together? That would be better if you are wanting one cohesive flock.

The above is good advice imo.
Nothing more to add. Good luck.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not sure how many total chickens you have but I believe they are all still pullets and cockerels, not yet hens and roosters. The way I understand it you have two pullets and a cockerel about 4 months old and an unknown number of chicks 8 or 9 weeks old that may be pullets or cockerels. I don't know if the 2-month-olds are sharing space with the 4 month old pullets. I also do not know the dimensions (in feet or meters) of your coops or the runs or how everything is set up. New Hampshire do not come in a white version, by the way. New Hampshire only come in a sort of buff with black highlights. Not that it matters to this.

You have a lot going on. Your 4-month-old pullets could be getting really close to laying. I've had some pullets start to lay at 16 weeks, though most wait a while longer. Those two pullets and the cockerel are at an age that you just don't know how mature they really are and maturity can have a huge effect on behaviors.

I've had a cockerel that age be fairly mature but that is extremely rare I would not expect that at all. And I would not count on those pullets being all that mature either. What I would expect if you put those pullets with the cockerel is that he will mate them but they will resist so it can get pretty rough down there. It can be pretty hard to watch. I raise my chicks with the flock and I have a lot of room so it is not usually that bad, but it can get rough. With only two pullets and what I think is limited space it could be worse.

There is a myth going around on this forum that you have to have 10 hens for every rooster or you are guaranteed a disaster. I have not found that to be true. I sometimes have a lot more cockerels than pullets and it doesn't get that bad. I have seen it pretty bad when the pullets greatly outnumber the cockerels though I never have that 10 to 1 ratio. They are all individuals with their own personality so about anything can happen. But with two pullets not mature enough to cooperate and a cockerel really hopped up on hormones that age I think it could get really rough pretty quickly down there.

Putting a cockerel in with those pullets will not trigger them into laying nor will it delay their maturity into laying. It is not going to have any long term effect. It is fairly rare for a pullet to be seriously injured during this phase but it can be violent so that is possible. At this age I don't see a big reason for any look-but-don't-touch time, his hormones are going to override any possible benefits. I suggest you put them together when you can observe and see what happens. It may work out fine, you may decide you need to separate them. If you do separate them I'd wait until both pullets are laying before I tried again. Give them time to mature. You may be playing this game of trying for a few months.

That's enough typing for now. What can you tell us about the 8 to 9 week olds and how do they fit into this?

 

[ShanasCastle]

Do you have photos of your birds?
Do you have room to put them all together? That would be better if you are wanting one cohesive flock.
As for mating...it won't hurt her, there is no penetration in chicken mating. It sounds like your girl is low in pecking order and just submissive. That in itself may cause some problems if you separate her from the other pullets and plan to integrate her back later on. She may be bullied and/or kept from food.

If they can't all be together, then I would leave the pullets together. It won't kill the cockerel to be by himself. At only 2-4months old, he has a lot of growing up to do, as do your pullets.

I would really be interested in seeing your birds. New Hampshire only come in the color "red", as far as I know, there is not a white version.

We Have our First egg! LOL. Bertha is like the Queen Bee of the two bigger hens and the three small pullets and has just laid her first egg today . This rooster was one of your at his previous home so was fighting with the others. My hubby took him and I don't want to chance him hurting the 8-9 week olds (one I am positive is a rooster too). Thinking of putting Bertha in with him since she has laid an egg and they are the same breed.

 

[ShanasCastle]

Going to try to get better picture. Moving objects....lol

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Going to try to get better picture. Moving objects....lol

Congratulations on the first egg!

Is Bertha the large white girl? She may be a White Plymouth Rock, I have 2 of them, they are good layers and mild mannered

She looks big enough to take care of herself, so try her with the cockerel, just observe to make sure he doesn't over mate her to the point she is stressed and not eating. Boys that age just don't mate once a day, they are like the Energizer Bunny -they just keep going

As for the others, I have no clue as to the breed, but they are cute!

 

[ShanasCastle]

Congratulations on the first egg!

Is Bertha the large white girl? She may be a White Plymouth Rock, I have 2 of them, they are good layers and mild mannered

She looks big enough to take care of herself, so try her with the cockerel, just observe to make sure he doesn't over mate her to the point she is stressed and not eating. Boys that age just don't mate once a day, they are like the Energizer Bunny -they just keep going

As for the others, I have no clue as to the breed, but they are cute!

Yes, Bertha is the big white one, the breeder said she was a Rhode Island White. So, I got brave and put her in with the rooster. I have to admit that I was nervous lol. After placing her in his run, I turned to grab her, her favorite treat (cherry tomatoe) and when I turned that cheeky rooster had Already mounted my girl!!! . I knew it was going to be violent but I was taken aback, let out a shreek and took off running for the house!!! YES my husband was in doors, watching, and almost rolling on the floor when I came through the front door. Phew....but now that's behind me, I'm unstoppable . I snatched up one of the pullets who've been sitting away and held her until she was comfortable! She fell asleep in my arms . Sorry, forgot to snap a pic!! Was too in to the moment. Thanks so much for the advice bc it helped my confidence so much!! Now everyone is happily locked in for the night, all is peaceful coos.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, Bertha is the big white one, the breeder said she was a Rhode Island White. So, I got brave and put her in with the rooster. I have to admit that I was nervous lol. After placing her in his run, I turned to grab her, her favorite treat (cherry tomatoe) and when I turned that cheeky rooster had Already mounted my girl!!! . I knew it was going to be violent but I was taken aback, let out a shreek and took off running for the house!!! YES my husband was in doors, watching, and almost rolling on the floor when I came through the front door. Phew....but now that's behind me, I'm unstoppable . I snatched up one of the pullets who've been sitting away and held her until she was comfortable! She fell asleep in my arms . Sorry, forgot to snap a pic!! Was too in to the moment. Thanks so much for the advice bc it helped my confidence so much!! Now everyone is happily locked in for the night, all is peaceful coos.

told you at that age they waste no time

I would just observe them for a while, she does need to be able to get away from him and be able to eat/drink. Some cockerels can be rough, some are clumsy, so watch for feather wear. This article is tasteful and explains the mating of chickens, it's an interesting read, I've found that there's something new to learn everyday https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-mating-how-does-that-work/