Rooster pecking baby chicks

[Petra Pancake]

I have got a broody with 3 chicks (4 days old) in the coop together with the flock. The mother hen is my highest ranking hen in the pecking order and she does an excellent job at keeping the other hens away from her baby chicks. But today I saw the rooster go after the chicks and peck them repeatedly, especially one of them. It ran away from him squeaking but he went after it. The mother hen didn't intervene. The chicks by the way are the same rooster's offspring. How dangerous for the chicks is this? I wanted to raise them with the flock and I also don't really have alternative housing for them. Do I have to separate either the mother with her chicks or the rooster to prevent murder or is this normal behavior?

 

[PD-Riverman]

If you have read some of my post, you probably read this. I Never mix the broody and chicks with the flock----I lost to many chicks from being pecked in the head mainly and died. The broody hen has gotten torn up too trying to protect them. Some have No problem?? I do not either---anymore---because it does not happen anymore. I set ALOT of broody hens. That's your call----separating the rooster was not a option for me because I wanted fertile eggs, but I had more attacks on the chicks from the hens than the rooster. Now its Piece and harmony. Good Luck!

 

[Petra Pancake]

Thanks. I'll watch out if there are any more attacks and if so, I'll probably separate the rooster for some time. I don't need fertilized eggs all the time. The hen is very flighty and not tame and trying to catch her with the chicks might injure her or them. I've read here on BY both opinions in posts - people who always raise chicks with the flock and people who never do this. I'm trying it out. I've got another broody hen right now who is separated from the flock, hatch date next week. So I'll be able to compare which method works better in my situation.

 

[PD-Riverman]

. The hen is very flighty and not tame and trying to catch her with the chicks might injure her or them.

Always catch her after dark----No Problem then.

 

[centrarchid]

You need to have more than a pair of broody hens to compare methods. Hens themselves can affect outcome as can other variables you are not considering.

This thread is a duplicate to:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-pecking-baby-chicks.1176166/

 

[Petra Pancake]

@centrarchid , you're right. Somehow this thread got posted double. How can I delete one of them?