When does a rooster become sexually mature?

[mix chickens]

I have a barred rock rooster that is a little over 2 months. I want to hatch some eggs with him, and he is very sweet. He has not started crowing or mounting. I was wondering when I could expect to see some fertile eggs !! Thanks !!!

 

[Peeps61]

My little EE rooster was a mean bugger at around 3 1/2 months. He started crowing shortly after that and could only mount his companion hen because she was the same age as him and would submit. The older girls just beat him up. They did teach him some manners though, and eventually he did rule the roost. It wasn't until he was about 9 months old though. You, and your hens, will have to get through his terrible teenage hormones before he calms down to a reasonably sane creature.

 

[donrae]

4 months is usually the earliest end of the spectrum. Usually by 6 months he'll be breeding pretty consistently. However, as Peeps mentioned, if you have older hens they may not allow him to mate until he's more like 8+ months.

 

[junebuggena]

My Easter Egger cockerel started mounting the pullets at about 15 weeks.