do roosters bother baby chicks?

[gritsar]

Depends on the roo. And whether or not the other hens will bother the chicks depends on their personalities too.

My broody hatched her chicks in the coop and after a few days of segregation I let her and the chicks out with the flock (when she let me know she was ready). The chicks have done just fine. Mama has been "weaning" them lately, so my roo has taken over as babysitter during the day. The chicks are out with their free range flock during the day and are learning to roost on their own at night.

The only ones being mean to the chicks are my two silkie pullets. Not real happy with the silkies and they've been threatened with some asian cooking recipes.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I have one roo that is the babysitter to the 'newly abandoned' chicks. He looks after them so well that I've started calling him 'Frannie'

 

[bosingleton]

This guy doesn't mind

 

[PrairieChickens]

Like others said, it depends on the broody and it depends on the rooster. I have a rooster that tries to help take care of the chicks, and another that would peck the chicks if it weren't for the broody's attitude. Introduce them, watch them carefully, and see how things play out. If the rooster shows any signs of aggression towards the chicks, remove him, especially if the broody herself doesn't step up to defend the babies.

 

[OEG Lifer]

Definitely depends on your roo, and some hens can be nasty. I separate hen and chicks in their own enclosure next to the main coop, and when the chicks are feathering let them mingle. Observing closely at first of course... If the hen and chicks are in close proximity everyone seems to consider them part of the flock, but apart they are much harder to re-integrate.
Growing up we had a silkie cross hatch a mob, then a coon snagged her. (Chicks were a day old?). This silkie roo raised the whole bunch. We called him Mr. Mom. Talk about broody instincts!

 

[stevenb1985]

I just showed my RIR Rooster my 2 week old BO and he tried to take a bite out of her! I reacted and smacked him for doing it. I feel bad for it, but it was my protective instinct. Anyway, he did his job and clucked to warn the adult hens to stay away from the chick. So my experience is that they will peck and they see them as food.

 

[pangaro1]

I am wondering the same thing? I have 2 roos and 4 hens that are approximately 7 months old. One of the hens is sitting on three eggs. We have only hatched eggs from an incubator and Im wondering If I need to seperate mom and eggs from the roos and other hens before they hatch or if I should not seperate them at all.

 

[Peeps61]

There's a really good thread on raising a "Broody Rooster" by Centracid on this forum somewhere. It's interesting to note that roosters who are mated with a particular hen (I think he had some game rooster in him) would share the babysitting and protection duties with the hen, to the point of settling in the nesting area with the chicks and the hen at night, or roosting close by. As stated earlier, I think it depends on the rooster. If he views them as his offspring, he may be more protective of the chicks. Of course, young and inexperienced roos may not. Good luck!