Gorgeous rooster ... needs more hens? ... Oregon

I have a one-year-old Speckled Sussex Rooster. He was supposed to be a hen, but then he began to crow.



He's a pretty good rooster (I think - ?). He watches over my girls, he finds them food, he watches for hawks, etc.

However, he's a randy boy and my six hens are looking pretty stressed and ragged. Also, the flock is struggling with dominance issues - my matron hen in no way will cede her position to him and is suffering from ratty feathers to prove it. Another hen is bald and her back is bare because she's so little, she just submits.

The rooster often attacks my boyfriend, and they battle, but I raised him, so he leaves me be as long as I am respectful and am sure to put any food intended for all of them in front of him so he can call them over, although he always backs down if I have to give him the hairy eyeball.

Maybe he isn't really a good rooster?

I know roosters are next to impossible to rehome, but I am giving this a shot before I hand him over to my neighbors for their stew-pot.

If anyone is interested, please be more experienced with chickens than I am so I know you're making an educated decision, and please understand when I play 20-questions about your own situation.

If he attacked your bf, he's not a good rooster.

I love how SS roos look. Very gorgeous birds. However, the one I had, I sold at auction because he was a bit too bossy with me. Never attacked, but I knew he thought about it and probably would eventually. Just too unpredictable. That's the only Sussex roo I've had. My personal rule of thumb is that if a roo attacks twice, he's gone. I say this because I had a Dorking roo that attacked my dad once. This incident occurred after a string of fox attacks and never before that. So I think he was simply stressed and high strung from the trauma of the attacks because he was very even tempered before. I kept him and he died of old age last year without further incident. However, repeated attacks and in regular circumstances are a different story. That's a sign of outright aggression. Your hens would also benefit from reduced stress of mating as well with there being only six of them. You could bump up the hens, but he'd still probably have his favorite two or three. I love roosters, but they're not worth keeping if they're overly aggressive. You don't want a health hazard every time you go to enjoy your flock.

You don't want a health hazard every time you go to enjoy your flock. 

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You're spot on, and that is why I have made this sad decision. Thank you for your story.

overthelimit said:

You're spot on, and that is why I have made this sad decision. Thank you for your story.

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I commend you for making a hard decision. I do believe roos, in general, have a bad reputation. I have had my share of nasty little buggers, but I've had more respectful "boys" than mean. If you like roos, don't let this one sour you on them for good. Just be aware of what could go wrong and what may have to be done if you get a ill-tempered one. Try, try again, I say; roos are easy to come by.

Try, try again, I say; roos are easy to come by.

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I will, for sure! Thank you.

Hi is your roo still available? I live in the mountains of North Carolina on 260 acres. Plenty of room for roos that have a temper! We would have to ship him though. If you still have him and don't mind shipping him I will gladly take him. I have a speckled sussex roo that is well behaved, healthy and happy. If you are interested, and would like to discuss it further please email me direct.... [email protected]
Thanks! David

Thank you for your response @NCMountainBear ...

We may have found a local home for this boy.