What do i have???

[Fluffy Lambs]

Yes, thats a good option. Why don't you want your cockerel breeding with the Astrolorps? As long as you don't incubate the eggs or want pure Astrolorps it wont matter. Plus, it doubt he will be able to fertilize their eggs anyway.
I think its a good idea to put them all together it will still get your Duccl'e hen good fertility, and give her a break from mating.

He might be able to fertilize them, depends if he can reach

 

[Redheadchickenllady223]

Ok that's what I was hoping. I dont want our duccle hen getting wore out or hurt from being only hen with him. We have 8 (3 week old) golden laced wyandottes but they are in brooder box still. What do yall recommend when combining them? Since by the time they are old enough to go in run and coop the others will be way older. Dont wont them to get hurt.

 

[Weeg]

When do australorps start laying eggs? What about bantam porcelain duccles? My rooster duccle was crowing at 5 weeks. He was still in brooder box and was crowing. They are the 2 white ones in picture.

I dont have personal experience, but I know on average that higher production breeds usually start laying between 16 and 20 weeks of age. Google claims 16 to 18 weeks, but thats nothing to rely on.
Once you see them start squatting the can be a sign they will lay soon. Its not always garenteed though. Some hens will start squatting weeks or months before laying. Messing up the nest boxes is usually a pretty accurate sign.

 

[Weeg]

Ok that's what I was hoping. I dont want our duccle hen getting wore out or hurt from being only hen with him. We have 8 (3 week old) golden laced wyandottes but they are in brooder box still. What do yall recommend when combining them? Since by the time they are old enough to go in run and coop the others will be way older. Dont wont them to get hurt.

When doing an introduction, you want to use a see no tough area for multiple weeks. That is a predator proof area were your two Duccl'es will be protected from predators and the other chickens. They will be able to see each other and interact through the fence, but not tough. It took 2 weeks of this for me to introduce my bantams together. Now they are best of friends.

 

[Redheadchickenllady223]

The duccle hen goes in coop all day long messing around and is always last one out of coop in morning. I think they mature faster apparently with crowing at 5 weeks old. I have never had chickens. These were our first ones and I love to care for them and watch them grow. It's fun to just sit and watch. Pur rooster I can go to him in evening and say "rooster boy, tell everyone it's time for bed.. go ahead tell them" and like 10 seconds later he will get to highest roosting pole and crow. Lol. But I havent witnessed the squatting. Or I dont know what to look for.. lol.. i do know the rooster has been grabbing her neck feather alot in last few weeks and she squawks and runs away. Thank yall for all this info

 

[Redheadchickenllady223]

Ok. We have sectioned off some of the run so they csnt get to each other and plan to put a small coop in the smaller area for the younger ones once they are out of brooder box and can be out there all night. Hopefully they will learn going into coop at night with it being in there and the bigger ones will be able to see them and get used to them. During day we let them run around beside run where they cant touch and all the big chickens follow the fence trying to get to them. Scary

 

[Weeg]

The duccle hen goes in coop all day long messing around and is always last one out of coop in morning. I think they mature faster apparently with crowing at 5 weeks old. I have never had chickens. These were our first ones and I love to care for them and watch them grow. It's fun to just sit and watch. Pur rooster I can go to him in evening and say "rooster boy, tell everyone it's time for bed.. go ahead tell them" and like 10 seconds later he will get to highest roosting pole and crow. Lol. But I havent witnessed the squatting. Or I dont know what to look for.. lol.. i do know the rooster has been grabbing her neck feather alot in last few weeks and she squawks and runs away. Thank yall for all this info

Sounds like your boy is practicing mating behavior.
To check for squatting, put your hand on her back and she should squat down. Once you remove your hand she'll hop back up and shake her tail feathers. It shows she's ready to be mated.

 

[Weeg]

Ok. We have sectioned off some of the run so they csnt get to each other and plan to put a small coop in the smaller area for the younger ones once they are out of brooder box and can be out there all night. Hopefully they will learn going into coop at night with it being in there and the bigger ones will be able to see them and get used to them. During day we let them run around beside run where they cant touch and all the big chickens follow the fence trying to get to them. Scary

Your Duccl'es are 5 months old correct? Are they still getting supplemental heat in the brooder box? If they are, you can stop, they are plenty old enough to not need it.
The older ones are just curious. They're intruders to them who need to be shown were they're place is. Give it some time and they'll figure it out.

 

[Redheadchickenllady223]

Your Duccl'es are 5 months old correct? Are they still getting supplemental heat in the brooder box? If they are, you can stop, they are plenty old enough to not need it.
The older ones are just curious. They're intruders to them who need to be shown were they're place is. Give it some time and they'll figure it out.

O no. The older ones are the 4 australorps and 2 duccles. They have been in run and outdoor coop for a out 10 weeks now. We recently got 8 more pullets(silver laced and golden laced wyandottes) they are 3 weeks old. They are 90% in brooder box. It's very hot where I live so during hottest part of day we turn off and let them come out beside big chickens run to walk around and move more versus in small brooder box.thats when the bigger chickens are like what is that.. lol

 

[Weeg]

O no. The older ones are the 4 australorps and 2 duccles. They have been in run and outdoor coop for a out 10 weeks now. We recently got 8 more pullets(silver laced and golden laced wyandottes) they are 3 weeks old. They are 90% in brooder box. It's very hot where I live so during hottest part of day we turn off and let them come out beside big chickens run to walk around and move more versus in small brooder box.thats when the bigger chickens are like what is that.. lol

Got it! That makes since. I get it now.