[Casey76]

So, when do cockerals become sexually mature?

One of my boys (now 10 weeks old) started crowing about a week and a half ago, and with regular practice    :blink: is becoming quite proficient.

Yesterday I thought I saw him attempt to tread one of the girls (who was having none of it ) but he could have just been his clumsy old self and just walked over her 

I'll have to get a couple of new photos of him, as he does look rather sweet now, if he will stand still for 2 minutes.  Unfortunately he is terrifed of me  as last week he came running at me and without thinking I dumped a bucket of water on him *oops* So he usually runs in the opposite direction if he sees me coming now 

[SnooziSuzi]

LOL!

I heard/read somewhere that they tread the hens as soon as they realise there's a difference between the two, but just like humans they aren't fertile until their second year.

Might be wrong though 

[Fifitrix]

We got fertilised eggs out of a 7-8 month old cockerel.  Now one of his babies is 12 weeks old and has already tried jumping on the hens that are way bigger than him!  But I'm guessing we've got a while to go until there's anything worth getting excited about and anyway, that'll be when he has to go 

[meterman]

Thinking about this surely hens and cocks mature around the same age so if your hen starts to lay at 25 weeks then her brother should be able to fertilise her eggs?

[Casey76]

Well, Tach has found his feet, as it were.  He jumped on poor old Sage last night (right when my mum was there too )  Cor, he wasn't exactly gentle either  :blink:

It's going to get awfully noisy in the next few days, as thyme is discovering his voice too.  he has started making sneezing sounds, and if he is anything like Tach, next he'll be making hiccuping noises, then he'll be cocka-squawking.

[Sassy]

So, when do cockerals become sexually mature?

One of my boys (now 10 weeks old) started crowing about a week and a half ago, and with regular practice    :blink: is becoming quite proficient.

Yesterday I thought I saw him attempt to tread one of the girls (who was having none of it ) but he could have just been his clumsy old self and just walked over her 

I'll have to get a couple of new photos of him, as he does look rather sweet now, if he will stand still for 2 minutes.  Unfortunately he is terrifed of me  as last week he came running at me and without thinking I dumped a bucket of water on him *oops* So he usually runs in the opposite direction if he sees me coming now 

Probably was a good idea to keep him in his place and let him know that you are higher than him in the pecking order. We had to cull a vicious cockerel this year as he was way too dangerous. Perhaps if we had started off like you he would have got the message.