Roo close with a chick

[crayon]

I have 9, five week old chicks. I have one Partridge Rocks rooster and one very small chick. By coloring could also be roo but is about 2-2.5 weeks behind in size. Anyway- they are always together- they lay eat together, lay together, hang out together. Could it be the roo is just protective of the little one, or that the little one sticks with the roo for protection form my HUGE 5 week old RIRs?

Just wondering if you have seen a roo take this early to another.

 

[cat1994]

Sounds cute I can’t say that I have had this happen b/c my roos are as far away from my chicks as I can get them b/c I’m a worrier and don’t want a roo to kill one

 

[RoosterRidge]

Well sounds like to me you have one fine gentleman there...

 

[Badbaby05]

Roos are very protective of the whole flock, they will not hurt the babies. That's one big proud papa (even if they're not his). My mumma hen pushed her little ones away at about 3 weeks of age, my big roo took over her role! It's so cute, if they cry in distress he comes a running clucking like the mumma chicken and leads them back to the group for foraging.

 

[crayon]

Quote:
I have 2 other roos (I have 2 batches of chickens- the younger ones 5 weeks are in the run still) but my older roos have always LOVED their girls- they are protective- if they hear the dog come over the roos puff up to protect the girls.

I know that roos like to... humm.... hump.... The ladies- but I have seen no aggression with mine. Everyone I know lest the roos roam with the ladies. You would have more of a fight between two roos for their ladies- but they should not kill each other.


As for my OP- he is just the sweetest thing! The little chick was very protective of another one we had die at 10 days old- she was sick for a few days and the little chick protected he from the others- even tho she was the smallest of the flock.

Maybe my little roo saw that and just fell in love