Will rooster harm chicks?

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve raised turkeys with the chicken flock but not pheasant or anything else like that so I won’t comment on that part. I don’t have the experience.

I have never had a dominant rooster do anything to threaten a chick. I’ve had some dominant roosters help a broody out with her chicks. Not all dominant roosters help but several have.

From what I’ve seen a non-dominant rooster can be as threatening to a chick as most hens. Most of my hens or non-dominant roosters don’t go out of their way to harm a chick, but if an unprotected chick wanders into their personal space that chick is certainly in danger.

I’ve never had a broody hen that would not protect her chicks, whether from another hen or a non-dominant rooster. Just like all roosters are not the same, all broodies are not the same. I’m sure some people have had broodies that were not very good at protecting their chicks. But the broodies I’ve had have such a bad attitude when something threatens their chicks that no other chicken in the flock, hen or rooster, has a chance against them.

One important thing to remember. If a chick goes through a fence and mixes with other members of the flock but the broody cannot get through that fence to protect her chick, that chick is in great danger. I had that happen once. That was my fault. I had a fence the chick could get through but the broody could not.

 

[Kilsharion]

In my opinion, you dont need a rooster to defend the flock. I also dont think it would be right to have a hen raise pheasants, they wouldnt be able to communicate. The chicks may wander off and not be able to come back because they dont understand eachother.

My husband used his broody hens for chukars and pheasants all the time. Ironically, his best "mother" to them was his bantam hen.

As for a rooster - not sure how much protection he would actually offer other than potential distraction. If that's the only reason you're getting him, I'd reconsider.

 

[lilliesanchicks]

My hens allow the free ranger roo close to the chicks but will attack another hen or juvenile if she gets to close to the chicks.

 

[donnavee]

I had a hen hatch & raise 2 ducks - she was a great Mom. She couldn't seem to understand why they were unable to scratch, so she would dig up worms and other tidbits and give to them. A mama duck also hatched her eggs at about the same time and each group of ducklings recognized their Mom's voice. In fact the chicken was a better Mom then the Duck. Six months later, the chicken raised ducks seem to blend easily with both worlds - they spend the day swimming and splashing with the ducks but at night head for the chicken house to sleep.

No experience with Roos.

 

[sand man]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I'll probably give the rooster around a month or a little less to settle in before I give my hen the eggs.

 

[missnu01]

Anytime I introduce birds I put the new ones in a dog crate in the main coop for a few days to a week...then I let them out right before the chickens head out to scrounge around the yard...So far no issues. I have introduced bantam sized to Large Fowl, and large roosters to small, and a hen and chicks...no issues yet. I also have a really old rooster...He has huge spurs and a very very patient and tempered demeanor. So it really all depends on the rooster in question. Then again none of the other roosters have shown any issue with any of the other chickens...or each other. My big roo attacks my little silkie roo every once in awhile, but only if he needs it...
he likes to flog me if I'm on my phone. the big roo allows no fighting between hens or anything else really, so he comes and rescues me whenever the little fluff decides to try and climb my legs in an unfriendly manner. All of my chickens interactions are decided with staring matches. 2 hens arrive at a crumb at the same time, they will stare at each other til one of them wanders off...No fighting so far with 10 chickens. It is all about the space I think. We have 4 acres to free range and an 18x20 ft coop...so everyone can go where they please and get far enough away from everyone else to head off most issues.
The only near fights that happen is between the silkie roo and the big guy...Which is no fight at all...Lol. Nobody gets picked on...but there is definitely an order, but it seems everyone fell right into it without needing constant reminders of their place.