Roosters more protective when there are chicks?

[Love2read]

My Jersey Giant roo has always been very laid back and sweet, but lately he has been extremely aggressive.

I gave one of my broody hens a couple chicks abut 3 weeks ago and I now have 2 more hens who have gone broody. Could this be playing a part in the roos sudden aggression? If so, will the behavior stop once the chicks are grown or do I need to just kill him off?

 

[GitaBooks]

I'm not sure, as all roosters behave differently from one another. However, if you look at it based on their wild ancestors, its all about the rooster passing on his genes and then keeping his offspring alive so they can continue his bloodlines. Roosters know when there are broody hens, and they know the broodies are the ones passing on their genetics (at least that's what they think, even if the chicks aren't really their own) so they will raise the chicks to be healthy and safe so they can continue on the bloodlines.

Best of luck with your roo! I hope he settles down soon.

 

[Love2read]

The babies are his, if that makes a difference. I just hatched them in the incubator instead of letting the hen do it because I had someone wanting to buy some, so I had to hatch a lot at once.

Last year I tried to let a hen have her chicks with the flock and the other hens tried to kill them. This mama however, doesn't let ANYONE screw with her babies. She's even beat up the goats for getting to close, lol, so maybe her overprotectiveness is affecting the roo and putting him on edge too?

 

[GitaBooks]

It could be. You never know what goes on inside their heads. I'm sure he has some logical reason behind the aggression.

 

[aart]

Yes, the cock will help protect chicks.
No chicken knows which eggs contain whose genes......so no, that doesn't matter.

If the cock is being human aggressive, that might be a different story with many different possible causes other than the chicks.
Cocks should know that the keeper is cool (if the keeper is cool) and the keeper should be able to handle any bird in the flock without cock being upset.

How old is he?
Has he ever been human aggressive before?

 

[Love2read]

The roo is a Jersey Giant and has always been very calm, even when I have had to round up his girls in the past (tornado warnings...the chickens don't have much common sense about going into the coup during storms, lol). He did act weird once, but that was AFTER one of the hens had gone broody, so if that could affect his behavior then I would assume that was the reason. After the chicks hatched he started being more aggressive. He seems to have stopped now though, albeit I haven't been out there much lately (been sick). Maybe now that the chicks are older he's done being such a douche?

Unfortunately, I just had another batch of eggs hatch today (had 2 broody hens sitting on eggs), so I have a feeling it's going to start all over again. ><

I have some new roos in my older hatch, so I might just keep one of those boys instead and replace him. I would hate to do that though if he's just being protective of babies. Guess we'll have to play it by ear.