Rooster attacking broody hen and her chick

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Waterfaery

Waterfaery

Crowing
11 Years
Jan 23, 2014
600
1,346
361
Ireland
I have a broody hen with a single chick that I'm struggling to reintroduce to their flock. They've been in a broody coop with their own mini run that's located within the larger area so they've been able to see and interact with the flock the whole time.

I let them out into the main area for the first time today. There's some minor scuffling between the broody and the other hens but it's nothing unusual and they seem to be sorting it out. The big problem is the rooster. He was jump kicking the hen and aggressively chasing the chick around. The broody wasn't even defending the chick because she was being attacked so badly herself. She was just running away and calling the chick to follow her.

The rooster always liked this hen before she went broody and they were very settled together so I'm a bit shocked to see him attacking her like that. I do think the chick looks like a cockerel but I've never seen a rooster have a problem with his own chick before, regardless of their sex.

When I went in to help, the rooster attacked me too, so he's obviously stressed. He's never been aggressive to humans before but he has always been a bit feisty and used to try to fight other roosters through the fence when they were in an adjacent area, even though he's a bantam and my other roosters are all large fowl.

I have the door of the broody run held partially open so the chick has somewhere to escape to and somewhere to eat and drink where the adult birds can't fit, but it wasn't going in there because it was trying to follow the hen. And obviously I'm also worried about the hen herself but, of course, anywhere she can fit, the rooster can fit. So it looks like my normal chick safe zone isn't going to help in this case.

I've never seen anything like this before! I removed him to let the hen and chick settle a bit but I'm wondering if anyone can suggest any ideas for when I try again? Is it something they will be able to work out? Or is it clear he hasn't accepted the chick as his and therefore will continue to be a problem?
 
Waterfaery said:
I have a broody hen with a single chick that I'm struggling to reintroduce to their flock. They've been in a broody coop with their own mini run that's located within the larger area so they've been able to see and interact with the flock the whole time.

I let them out into the main area for the first time today. There's some minor scuffling between the broody and the other hens but it's nothing unusual and they seem to be sorting it out. The big problem is the rooster. He was jump kicking the hen and aggressively chasing the chick around. The broody wasn't even defending the chick because she was being attacked so badly herself. She was just running away and calling the chick to follow her.

The rooster always liked this hen before she went broody and they were very settled together so I'm a bit shocked to see him attacking her like that. I do think the chick looks like a cockerel but I've never seen a rooster have a problem with his own chick before, regardless of their sex.

When I went in to help, the rooster attacked me too, so he's obviously stressed. He's never been aggressive to humans before but he has always been a bit feisty and used to try to fight other roosters through the fence when they were in an adjacent area, even though he's a bantam and my other roosters are all large fowl.

I have the door of the broody run held partially open so the chick has somewhere to escape to and somewhere to eat and drink where the adult birds can't fit, but it wasn't going in there because it was trying to follow the hen. And obviously I'm also worried about the hen herself but, of course, anywhere she can fit, the rooster can fit. So it looks like my normal chick safe zone isn't going to help in this case.

I've never seen anything like this before! I removed him to let the hen and chick settle a bit but I'm wondering if anyone can suggest any ideas for when I try again? Is it something they will be able to work out? Or is it clear he hasn't accepted the chick as his and therefore will continue to be a problem?
Click to expand...
This means he's not cut out to do his duties. A rooster should never attack chicks, but should protect, & help raise them.
 
Waterfaery said:
I have a broody hen with a single chick that I'm struggling to reintroduce to their flock. They've been in a broody coop with their own mini run that's located within the larger area so they've been able to see and interact with the flock the whole time.

I let them out into the main area for the first time today. There's some minor scuffling between the broody and the other hens but it's nothing unusual and they seem to be sorting it out. The big problem is the rooster. He was jump kicking the hen and aggressively chasing the chick around. The broody wasn't even defending the chick because she was being attacked so badly herself. She was just running away and calling the chick to follow her.

The rooster always liked this hen before she went broody and they were very settled together so I'm a bit shocked to see him attacking her like that. I do think the chick looks like a cockerel but I've never seen a rooster have a problem with his own chick before, regardless of their sex.

When I went in to help, the rooster attacked me too, so he's obviously stressed. He's never been aggressive to humans before but he has always been a bit feisty and used to try to fight other roosters through the fence when they were in an adjacent area, even though he's a bantam and my other roosters are all large fowl.

I have the door of the broody run held partially open so the chick has somewhere to escape to and somewhere to eat and drink where the adult birds can't fit, but it wasn't going in there because it was trying to follow the hen. And obviously I'm also worried about the hen herself but, of course, anywhere she can fit, the rooster can fit. So it looks like my normal chick safe zone isn't going to help in this case.

I've never seen anything like this before! I removed him to let the hen and chick settle a bit but I'm wondering if anyone can suggest any ideas for when I try again? Is it something they will be able to work out? Or is it clear he hasn't accepted the chick as his and therefore will continue to be a problem?
Click to expand...
My broody is in a divided run separate from the flock so when she comes off the nest ( tomorrow) none of the chicks will be harmed. My flock can see them all thru the chicken wire.The broody will only stay with the chicks about 4-5 weeks before roosting in the flock again. I will keep the pullets separated from the flock until they are laying age but the cockerels will join the flock at the same time as the broody hen weans them (4-5 weeks)
 
Last edited:
Waterfaery said:
I have a broody hen with a single chick that I'm struggling to reintroduce to their flock. They've been in a broody coop with their own mini run that's located within the larger area so they've been able to see and interact with the flock the whole time.

I let them out into the main area for the first time today. There's some minor scuffling between the broody and the other hens but it's nothing unusual and they seem to be sorting it out. The big problem is the rooster. He was jump kicking the hen and aggressively chasing the chick around. The broody wasn't even defending the chick because she was being attacked so badly herself. She was just running away and calling the chick to follow her.

The rooster always liked this hen before she went broody and they were very settled together so I'm a bit shocked to see him attacking her like that. I do think the chick looks like a cockerel but I've never seen a rooster have a problem with his own chick before, regardless of their sex.

When I went in to help, the rooster attacked me too, so he's obviously stressed. He's never been aggressive to humans before but he has always been a bit feisty and used to try to fight other roosters through the fence when they were in an adjacent area, even though he's a bantam and my other roosters are all large fowl.

I have the door of the broody run held partially open so the chick has somewhere to escape to and somewhere to eat and drink where the adult birds can't fit, but it wasn't going in there because it was trying to follow the hen. And obviously I'm also worried about the hen herself but, of course, anywhere she can fit, the rooster can fit. So it looks like my normal chick safe zone isn't going to help in this case.

I've never seen anything like this before! I removed him to let the hen and chick settle a bit but I'm wondering if anyone can suggest any ideas for when I try again? Is it something they will be able to work out? Or is it clear he hasn't accepted the chick as his and therefore will continue to be a problem?
Click to expand...
According to this article its common for roosters to attack chicks and harm them.Even kill them. I've never raised chicks in a flock with a rooster but some say it can be done https://thelivestockexpert.com/will-a-rooster-kill-baby-chicks/
 
McChooky said:
According to this article its common for roosters to attack chicks and harm them.Even kill them. I've never raised chicks in a flock with a rooster but some say it can be done https://thelivestockexpert.com/will-a-rooster-kill-baby-chicks/
Click to expand...
The way I read this article, it is about bringing in new chicks, not chicks hatched with the flock and raised by a broody. It's not clear but I think they keep the chicks in a brooder away from the rooster and rest of the flock for a few weeks also.

An excerpt from that article:

While most roosters exhibit protective behavior, there are cases where a rooster may display aggression towards baby chicks.

I cannot argue with that statement. When you deal with living animals you do not get guarantees, anything can happen. Heck, when you deal with life anything can happen. A piece of space junk may fall out of the sky and hit your coop this afternoon. It probably won't but it can. I'll agree that a piece of space junk hitting your coop is a lot less likely than a rooster being aggressive toward chicks but it can happen.






Waterfaery said:
The big problem is the rooster. He was jump kicking the hen and aggressively chasing the chick around. The broody wasn't even defending the chick because she was being attacked so badly herself. She was just running away and calling the chick to follow her.


When I went in to help, the rooster attacked me too, so he's obviously stressed. He's never been aggressive to humans before

I've never seen anything like this before! I removed him to let the hen and chick settle a bit but I'm wondering if anyone can suggest any ideas for when I try again? Is it something they will be able to work out? Or is it clear he hasn't accepted the chick as his and therefore will continue to be a problem?
Click to expand...
I think you are trying to look at this behavior logically when it is not logical or normal. You can try isolating him totally from the flock for a while and try again but I think this is such an aberration that I'd just get rid of him. It sounds like you did everything right.
 
In my flock the hens set and hatch with the flock. I believe the mother's know best and decided when they will bring them out to everyone. I've had hens set outside the coop and I've had them set inside and hatch. I've never had a problem with anyone hen or roo attacking the chicks. If I ever had a roo act this way he would definitely not be a resident anymore. Either auction or freezer. My roos help with babies. Your roos behavior is unacceptable. If your hen was still visible to everyone while setting and he acted out so badly I'm not sure what you can do. Is finding him a new home an option? Do they free range or are they kept in a run?
 

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