Service before crowing?

[dpenning]

So I have a rooster that is 5.5 months old. I haven’t heard him crowing but the chickens are quite a way from the house. I think I’m starting to see fertile eggs.

At what age do roo’s typically start servicing his ladies?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have had some young cockerels trying to mate as early as 7 weeks. And some crow as early as 3-4 weeks. Whether or not they were actually fertile I doubt..

But yes they can have many behaviors that don't fall in line with our expectations. I would be shocked for most of my boys to wait until 5.5 months old to try mating. So he may well be more like taking advantage than servicing at his age... if he can get the ladies to submit which is a LOT easier if they are his same age than older hens.

Don't worry, he will crow soon enough.

 

[dpenning]

LOL! I’m ok if he never crows. I was just surprised when I cracked my egg for breakfast. I’ll start looking more closely now.

 

[SimplyLivinthatFarmLife]

I've had a "late bloomer" before. He didn't crow for quite a while. I actually thought he would never crow. Don't worry, I'm sure he will be crowing soon.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I've had a "late bloomer" before. He didn't crow for quite a while. I actually thought he would never crow. Don't worry, I'm sure he will be crowing soon.

My latest to crow was about 35 weeks old (so far).

But wait there's more... I have a two year old HEN that started crowing this year!

So you are seeing bullseye's on your yolks?

 

[dpenning]

My latest to crow was about 35 weeks old (so far).

But wait there's more... I have a two year old HEN that started crowing this year!

So you are seeing bullseye's on your yolks?

I really wasn’t paying attention since I hadn’t heard any crowing. This morning I had one that looked fertile and it caught me by surprise. I’ll be looking more closely.

My last too was a polish but I did t have any polish hens so this time I actually ordered a buff orp since those are my favorite girls.

Now I can hatch my own orps.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

This morning I had one that looked fertile and it caught me by surprise. I’ll be looking more closely.

I guess I'm asking what a fertile egg looks like to you? What made you think it looks fertile?

Here is what a fertile egg looks like..

If it has some other spot in it... could be a blood spot or meat spot, both of which have nothing to do with fertility.

Generally waiting until birds are fully mature... will give you your best hatching results.

 

[dpenning]

I guess I'm asking what a fertile egg looks like to you? What made you think it looks fertile?

Here is what a fertile egg looks like..
View attachment 1647511View attachment 1647512

If it has some other spot in it... could be a blood spot or meat spot, both of which have nothing to do with fertility.

Generally waiting until birds are fully mature... will give you your best hatching results.

Yeah, I’ve identified fertile chicken and quail eggs... again I wasn’t really looking, just noticed it as I took the whisk to them.

I’m still trying to get electric run so I won’t be hatching anything until I get that done.

I really want Street Jr to start servicing his girls so I can hatch some more ducks In The spring! Assuming of course I can find eggs.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Roosters will breed without crowing. Crowing is a show of confidence and of claiming a territory. Many of my younger roosters mate but don't crow very often. They can mate faster than a dominant rooster can get to them usually. Crowing takes more time and they are often thumped mid crow if they don't watch it. So crowing takes bravado.

Often young rooster will find their voice, than they go more quiet for a while as they discover mating, before they go loud again as they mature. That's what I've seen at least.