Rooster attacked chicks, what do i do now?

[Jemma Rider]

I already started a thread like this about two weeks ago and i got a lot of great responses, but this one is purely about my rooster.
He attacked one of the chicks earlier, i let him get close because he's usually a really tame boy, but as soon as he could he grabbed Debra my porcelain d'uccle and lifted her into the air by her wing. I yelled at him and he dropped her, i locked him away until i could get the chicks back into their dog cage and checked on Deb, she was unharmed, her wing was okay she could still fly and there was no broken skin or missing feathers.
The chicks are five weeks, Rooster is one year, and my four adult hens are three years.
He went after then with aggression, i wondered if it was curiosity since he's never seen a chick before (except for the time these chicks have been out).
the hens have pretty much accepted the chicks, one even brings them food every once in a while, but rooster is just having none of it.
he's also been acting a bit off in general, he used to love being held and sometime within the last month he's turned into a very unfriendly chicken. He's not aggressive, never has been, but he won't come near me unless i have food which i suppose is good as long as he doesn't develop aggression.
I don't know what i should do i was going to make some chick sized doors in the dog cage next week so they could go in and out but the big chickens can't follow, I'm not sure if i should even try it if rooster doesn't stop.
now he's just staring at the chicks constantly through the dog cage bars, he can't get to them but he won't let them be. The chicks aren't bothered by his presence, but I'm worried he's going to keep attacking them when i let them out.

 

[centrarchid]

Reads like damage minimal at most. I have rooster pick up chicks from time to time. It appears to be a function of small confines. It is when the rooster pecks and flogs you need to be concerned.

 

[lazy gardener]

It sounds like he's developed a loose screw. A good roo actually protects the chicks. With him paying such close attention through the bars of the crate, IMO that's not a good sign. You have several choices:

1. Keep him separated while the chicks and hens spend time together. Don't let him mingle with flock again until the chicks are much older and more able to withstand his negative attention. But, if I am recalling your post correctly, these are banty chicks with a LF flock and roo??? This size difference may be an ongoing issue.

2. take a supervised approach, being ready to intervene if he displays aggression.

3. Given his changing behavior, cull him from the flock.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

A good rooster would NOT do that.

He is hormonal still and has some maturing to go... but at 1 year old should not be going after chicks. Your hen and chicks probably need to be integrated sooner next go around... at least here they are from week one, once they become mobile and mama is defending them.

You waited too long for integration. I personally would put HIM inside the kennel and let some more maturing take place. That behavior would NOT be tolerated at my place and he MIGHT be dinner if he doesn't shape up QUICK like.

I won't make a hole for chicks to come and go while mama is stuck inside... she needs to be the one to integrate them and defend them. They quickly learn who to avoid when allowed to develop with the flock. If you are letting her out... with holes for chicks to run around and hide in then okay... but I would not keep mum locked while babes roam. She should be teaching them to forage and the roo should be calling her AND chicks to treats!

 

[centrarchid]

I disagree strongly. Based on OP's accounts, things not that bad. Over-reacting here because we have not spent time observing what goes on in our flocks enough to get a handle on things do not always go perfectly even in an otherwise healthy setup.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

A good rooster would NOT do that.

He is hormonal still and has some maturing to go... but at 1 year old should not be going after chicks. Your hen and chicks probably need to be integrated sooner next go around... at least here they are from week one, once they become mobile and mama is defending them.

You waited too long for integration. I personally would put HIM inside the kennel and let some more maturing take place. That behavior would NOT be tolerated at my place and he MIGHT be dinner if he doesn't shape up QUICK like.

I won't make a hole for chicks to come and go while mama is stuck inside... she needs to be the one to integrate them and defend them. They quickly learn who to avoid when allowed to develop with the flock. If you are letting her out... with holes for chicks to run around and hide in then okay... but I would not keep mum locked while babes roam. She should be teaching them to forage and the roo should be calling her AND chicks to treats!

I don’t mean to intrude but it’s not a hen and her chicks, it’s just bantam chicks. Her older flock seems to be LF.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I disagree strongly. Based on OP's accounts, things not that bad. Over-reacting here because we have not spent time observing what goes on in our flocks enough to get a handle on things do not always go perfectly even in an otherwise healthy setup.

I usually stand back to see the level of behavior taking place. Really part of the issue here... I agree is NOT solely resting on the young stag. Some curiosity is fine.

but rooster is just having none of it.
he's also been acting a bit off in general, he used to love being held and sometime within the last month he's turned into a very unfriendly chicken.

An overly familiar boy, hand raised... hormones changing him later than most others. MAYBE he will be OK but I would be on the look out for the stink eye.

I actually don't even see that he attacked the chick... just that he picked the hen up off the chicks... How could he have never seen them before in 5 weeks?

To me... the LATE integration is the ONLY reason he would get a second chance.. along with the fact that he hasn't stepped up to drop a wing or dance at any human and has ZERO priors. If any warning behaviors start, after a quick attempt at correction (that doesn't mistakenly lead to escalation), THEN all bets would be off in my book.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I don’t mean to intrude but it’s not a hen and her chicks, it’s just bantam chicks. Her older flock seems to be LF.

Sharing pertinent information would NEVER be considered intruding!

And that would definitely make my suggestions and understanding of the situation different.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm on the fence here, tending toward thinking he's being a bad boy. I think it's more normal for the cock birds to watch over chicks, and that's the behavior I value. If chicks are a new experience for him, it's still not good, IMO. Your hens are doing fine with them, and he should be too. Maybe one more try, next week? You do have the babies out there in their separate space all the time, right?
My adults will peck a chick who's being too forward, to teach them respect for their elders, but nobody is injured. d'Uccles can move pretty fast, and should learn. I also think that letting the babies out with the hens, and locking him up in that cage, might be a good idea too. Let the littles get comfortable with their new spaces, so they know where to hide, at least. And have extra food and water dishes out there too.
Mary

 

[microchick]

Example. I have a first time broody and her 5 chicks in my main run in one of those little prefab cedar coops you can get on line. This morning it was time out for all the bantam roosters so the girls could get a break. I went out early and showed the roosters the run while the hens got to stay in the coop and relax a bit.

I just went out to let the girls in the run and to my horror the hen and her 5 chicks had gotten out of the coop (guess I didn't get the latch latched right) and they were running around in the run having a grand time. The roosters are 9 weeks to 2 years of age. One of the 1.5 year old roosters, a tough little boy missing half his feathers from fighting, was gallantly escorting the hen and her 3 week old chicks around.The chicks would occasionally break from mom to run amidst the roosters then return to mom. No violence, no aggression. I was able to gather the little family up and put them back in their pen, much to moms dismay. My roosters are amazing with chicks.

I've seen my young cockerels give juveniles 8 weeks old, a little peck on the head to show them who is boss but never witnessed any aggression from the older roos. They tend to guard the little ones.

I suspect your young roosters is going a bit overboard with showing the youngsters who is boss. I wouldn't give up on him either. If he wanted to kill the youngsters, I dare say it would be a done deal.