When does a roo start to get frisky with his girls/hens.....

[JeanGenie]

Hi all

This is my first set of hens I have ever had and when I bought then at a few weeks old I ended up with 3 hens and a cockeral. They have been happily living together and are now 14 weeks old.

My question is "When does a Cockeral start to get frisky with the hens". He is from what I understand starting to tread them even this morning. I have been told in the past he wont do this until at least 23 weeks and then hens wont lay anyway until around 20 to 24 weeks...

Am I being told correctly, is he just practising, or could he be an early developer...lololol

Thanks for any advice you can offer..

Dal

 

[Mahonri]

I've seen them successfully mount pullets as early as 16 weeks... but like you said, they won't start to lay until around 20 weeks. Maybe he needs 'roo prison' for a few weeks. :0)
(A pen of his own for a bit)

 

[zoomia]

I'm going through the same thing:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=222933

Though it should be noted that I haven't seen him get frisky with the hens that are his age. He likes older women!