Rooster's interest

County Lodge · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:49 pm

The following may sound like a really stupid question but :-?

I have 2 POL light sussex that I put with Larry (rooster) and the 4 older girls about 6 weeks ago. There is no problem they all get along just fine but what I want to know is:-

When does a rooster begin to mate/service/etc the pullet. I have noticed that one of the young pullets has developed her wattles and comb more and is very red so is about to come into lay but hasn't as yet. She has been hanging the the sussex crowd for about 2 weeks now while out free ranging. The 2 young ones use to freerange a bit to themselves up until 2 weeks ago. The other pullet has not developed as much comb and wattle yet nor is she quite as red but she has been hanging with the crowd as her little friend does. Larry, the light sussex rooster, has been doing th deed with both of them for a little over a week. BOY, I need to get out more. :!:

I didn't think the rooster did the deed until they began to lay. :-?

Tahir · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:55 pm

the roosters usually start mating with the pullets once their combs go red.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:03 pm

Tahir wrote:

the roosters usually start mating with the pullets once their combs go red.

How do they tell? :-?

Is it that they are so sensitive to colour or is a hormone??? released by the pullet :-?

nevit · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:31 pm

county when I had my RIR roo, he started to try to do the deed at 16wks, he had yet to start crowing at that stage but he knew what he was doing and he had his favourite and yeah iy was the hens with the most developed colour on the comb, wish it was as easy for us humans.

LOOLOO · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:15 pm

my roosters seem to be active at 4 months too but most of the eggs are no good.

LooLoo

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:55 am

County Lodge wrote:

BOY, I need to get out more. :!:

Country Lodge wrote:

I didn't think the rooster did the deed until they began to lay. :-?

My roosters will have a go at anything that looks remotely female as soon as their own hormones kick in. Maybe the older boys are a bit more discerning and look for red combs but the young ones :roll:

.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:53 pm

I ask this question as my Larry is an older more experienced rooster and I had never noticed before him doing the deed until the pullets started to lay. By the way my little pullet which had the really read comb has now laid 3 eggs. She started 3 days ago so Larry must be more on the ball than I gave hime credit for. Although the other pullet still hasn't started to lay yet nor has her comb developed but LArry won't leave her alone either even though he has the 4 older pullets now 12 months old.

Now Pepper (silver birchen pekin roooster) lives with Poppet and Penelope. Penelope is a lavender pullet who laid for awhile, went broody and I chucked her off the nest and put her in with Pepper. Penelope has now started to lay again. Pepper has been doing the deed with Penelope and her eggs are fertile, which is good as Pepper is only a very young cockerel. Poppet on the other hand had quite a red comb but it has not developed much and Pepper likes to hang with her but I have never seen him do anything with her. So she still must be a way off from laying yet.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 17, 2008 3:25 pm

Maybe Poppet has told Pepper she just wants to be "friends", and he is hanging around showing her attention in the sure knowledge that if he is persistent he will get his way eventually!!

This is an interesting thread, CL, as I have never given much thought to when roosters mate with pullets. I'll start watching a bit more closely now (well, until the neighbours start to whisper about me too much :oops:

).

Deb

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