cockerel mounted 9 week old chick

[LeggyLeghorn]

Silkie Polish cross
2 hens, mothers-10 months
1 cockerel-11 months
and 7 chicks-9 weeks old
they all get along, cockerel is doing his job well, all three collectively mind the chicks.

two days ago one chick began to lag behind. today i took chick to vet, as this morning it did not want to stand, couldn't really. so something was going on.

vet administered medication after thoroughly looking the chick over. it had a temperature but no signs of much else.

I placed chick up in coop. left for three hours. came back and chick was in the run eating and walking around. and then the a****** cockerel came over and mounted her, I intervened as best i could.

now the chick is back to where it was this morning. she, now I know, is up in coop in a cat carrier with food and water. cockerel does not go up in coop, he stays in run. there is no aggression towards the chick from the others.

what was that about? was it my presence? he had no problem yesterday with it, or the day before when symptoms began.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's how they roll. They are not humans and shouldn't be expected to behave in a similar manner.
I would separate all the 9 week olds till they are full size.

 

[Quackter]

To me, it sounds like the original issue is why she is back down. A rooster is going to do his thing, and no such thing as statutory. Too many cockerels, too tight an area, just a really aggressive one, or in this case to sick to get away, it could kill her. It happens, and for the most part, it don't hurt them, they do what they gonna do. I'd still separate her.

 

[aart]

He may have detected that there's something wrong with chick.
Chicks was removed and put back, even a few hours could cause a 'stranger danger' reaction. I'd remove the cockerel rather than the chicks or victim.
Any other birds than what are listed?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?

vet administered medication after thoroughly looking the chick over. it had a temperature but no signs of much else.

What was the diagnosis and medication?

 

[Quackter]

He may have detected that there's something wrong with chick.
Chicks was removed and put back, even a few hours could cause a 'stranger danger' reaction. I'd remove the cockerel rather than the chicks or victim.
Any other birds than what are listed?
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?


What was the diagnosis and medication?

You'd put the sick bird back in with the flock?

 

[aart]

You'd put the sick bird back in with the flock?

Yep, because the cockerel is the aggressor and....

there is no aggression towards the chick from the others.

 

[Quackter]

Yep, because the cockerel is the aggressor and....

Aren't attacking her yet.... Plus the pullet is sick, I wouldn't risk the flock.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I too would remove the cock, but reintroduce the chick. I'd keep the cock out of sight, out of mind for at least three days to give the chick a chance to buddy-up and bond with the older girls in an effort to find herself a protector. Once she's found herself such a hen, usually a quick find, and established herself into their flock the cockerel can be reintroduced. Sounds like he's got raging hormones going on and could stand for a time-out anyhow.

 

[aart]

Aren't attacking her yet.... Plus the pullet is sick, I wouldn't risk the flock.

Was just a suggestion, based on 'remove the bully, not the victim'.
We don't know what is wrong with the chick.
Of course there might be caveats to address the chicks condition and treatment by the other females.
Hard to come up with an absolute solution before knowing all the details.

 

[LeggyLeghorn]

thank you for all your responses.

I have the chick separated, in that it cannot come down from the coop. the coop is about 3.5 feet above ground. In the coop i have an open dog carrier to place her/him in if need be. the other chicks and hens do not bother the chick. the cockerel does not go up into the coop. I know this.

The run is 4'x8', they are let out as soon as possible in the morning. It is locked when they have gone to roost. All chicks and one hen go up into the coop. The cock and one hen roost in the run.

The diagnosis of the chick- the vet checked it over completely. The only thing the vet found was a small temperature and a bit of soreness in the upper joints of the legs. The vet gave a antibiotic injection to the chick.

My flock are out all day long. on three acres. the flock returns to the coop for night-time or occasionally to eat. They might spend some time there if it is pouring rain.

All the birds are looking and behaving well.

In the morning, I check the coop. The unwell chick has clearly been nesting with the flock at night because they only nest in one area, and that is where i find the chick.

What I realised is that, the cockerel has obviously been mounting this chick a fair few times before I noticed a problem. Perhaps the cockerel senses something with this chick but, then I would assume a different type of aggression verses mounting?

I do keep an eye on the flock. I look continually for any changes or variations in behaviour. and thus far, it has been only between the cock and this chick.

I will give the chick one more day. If it's condition improves, I will keep the set up as is for a week. locking the cockerel and flock out of the run all day, allowing them in at roosting time.

I am in process of finding this chick a place/ possible permanent home. however the chick is getting rest now. I just keep my eyes on the situation.