Rooster "tossing" baby chick??

[hd_darcy]

I caught one of my roosters taking a baby chick and tossing it in the air. I was so mad that I chased it out and didn't pay much attention to the chick, I seen it scrambling to get up. Well, a bit later, I noticed a chick laying on it's side in the coop about getting trampled by it's 9 siblings. It was also the UNLUCKY chick who got stepped on a few days ago and had a scab on it's head. Anyway, I thought it was dead. It was moving it's beak very slowly and not making any sound. Completely lifeless in my hand. Amazingly, after I brought it in the house and put it in the brooder it seems to be doing okay?! So, I have two questions..how in the world did it bounce back? what was it possibly going through when it was stuck on it's side near-death?? And 2) Do roosters do this sometimes? I'm not sure if he pecked at the scab or not on the baby?? I haven't had any issues w/ the scab on the chick, and have been watching it pretty closely. However, it looked like there was a bit of fresh blood there.. so maybe that is where he pecked it - but to throw the chick like he did???

Any thoughts?? Thank you!

 

[Amarisus]

That sounds aweful. I dont know of anyway to help you out but at least this will put your post back at the top.

 

[Umbral_Necropolitan]

Maybe it had a concussion and was dazed, got lucky and pulled through?

I know my hen likes to toss her food around, so maybe the roo thought the scab was food and was trying to get it off or away from the chick?

 

[hd_darcy]

A-ha.. that very well could be. The roo that did it is a very docile roo. He's not a favorite of mine just because he's scared to death of people, and he wont' let you near him. I've also never seen him fighting w/ any one, nor have I seen him breed any hens. Maybe that's exactly what happened. I do hope the chick is okay. I brought another one in the house and will keep them in here until at least tomorrow. Then, I need to do a better job of keeping my hens and babies segregated from the rest!