When does my roo become a man?

[Dean126]

I am pretty new to roosters and have never raised one from an egg. My main reason I am keeping a roo is for protection of my hens. My little guy is 6 weeks old now, and other than looks he is not yet displaying characteristics of being a roo. He is lowest in the pecking order with his 3 sisters in an 8 bird flock (he is the only male) and his mom is head hen. My question is when will he start acting like rooster, work up to being the boss and protecting his girls?

Thanks all!

 

[britesidefarm]

In my experience, they start acting like a roo when their around 12 weeks old

 

[ChickNanny13]

At 12wks most breeds male feathering as noticeable but as far as protecting the flock, it maybe awhile. Alot depends on the breed and hormones, size.

 

[Dean126]

Ok, so before they become sexually active then? He is an easter egger.

 

[Tonyroo]

My cockerel is about 3 month old, he has started to protect the flock by hanging back and watching. But he's greedy with food, he has to eat first before any pullets can. Hope that changes as he gets older.

 

[Hidrainja4]

Depends on the breed. My bantam Cochin crowed at six weeks. My Maran at sixteen weeks. Crowing is not an indication of sexual maturity. I would not expect to much rooster behaviour before sixteen weeks. Oh some rooster do not protect their hens they run the other way.

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

As one of the lower birds in the pecking order, even after reaching sexual maturity, it’ll tale him a bit to establish himself as the leader of his group of hens, he’ll have to charm as well as battle his way up to the top. Good luck!!

 

[RoosterWhisperer]

I am pretty new to roosters and have never raised one from an egg. My main reason I am keeping a roo is for protection of my hens. My little guy is 6 weeks old now, and other than looks he is not yet displaying characteristics of being a roo. He is lowest in the pecking order with his 3 sisters in an 8 bird flock (he is the only male) and his mom is head hen. My question is when will he start acting like rooster, work up to being the boss and protecting his girls?

Thanks all!

I'd say at about 4 or 5 months, our youngest boy is starting to act like a man, but nobody likes him lol.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Six months is usually the average, though I've found that bantams become 'mature' a a lot earlier.

 

[black_cat]

If you hatched him from an egg, how do you know he is male? In my very sophisticated reading on BYC experience, it will take a little bit, 16+weeks for him to begin getting all roostery.