DOUBTS ABOUT THE MAGICAL WORLD OF POULTRY? #ASK THE EXPERT!

Roosters’ breeding.

WELCOME TO A NEW CHAPTER OF THE #ASKTHEEXPERT COLUMN WITH MAURIZIO ARDUIN – CENTRO STUDI RÈGIA STAZIONE SPERIMENTALE DI POLLICOLTURA!

I have hatched many male chicks, is it possible to breed only roosters?

Male chicks can be bred together until they reach sexual maturity.

Depending on the breed, this may occur at different times.

Mediterranean breeds such as the Italiana, Livornese, Ancona, etc. show the first signs of maturity around the third month of life.

Other breeds, such as the Polverara, are later and begin sexual maturity after the fourth to fifth month of life.

One of the first obvious signs of reaching sexual maturity is the onset of ‘crowing’ – it is no coincidence that male cockerels were once slaughtered at ‘first crow’.

Before sexual maturity there are no signs of competition between the males and breeding can be conducted without any problem.

At the first signs of sexual maturity the cockerels begin to create a ‘territory’ for themselves by pecking at other males to establish their supremacy.

The development of this situation leads to ‘cannibalism’ with losses of animals within the group.

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