When do roosters mature?

[Duhonmommie]

We suspect that one of our lavender Orpington pullets is a rooster. Today he's been running around the grow out box after the other three, and he picked a fight with one of them. They're at least 4 weeks old. Thoughts?

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

If you send a picture it may help us help you! : D cockerels technically become roosters once they're a year old, they'll finish growing in their saddle and hackle feathers by the time they're around 8-12 months or so depending on breed. But you can see signs of a cockerel WAY earlier than a year! Reddening comb being a fairly common easy one

 

[Duhonmommie]

When do they sexually mature?

 

[aart]

When do they sexually mature?

Around 4 months they will start to try to mate.
That one in front is definitely a male.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x ... You got yourself a cockerel up front

 

[lateforbrekkie]

Cute little boy.

 

[Duhonmommie]

Why would he chase and fight them now? At such a young age?

 

[citymeetscountry]

Def a cockerel. Ours was a different breed but ours was about 4.5-5 months old when he started crowing and trying to mate

 

[citymeetscountry]

Why would he chase and fight them now? At such a young age?

Pecking order? Establish authority?

 

[Kk Augy]

It's just hormones ...sadly I also had hens that turned up to be males