Wow! See, i was always told how "dumb" chickens were! I was amazed at how smart mine are, and my "egg makers" have gone into being my pets! I never knew that chickens cared so much about each other! Maybe it's a bi-product of us spoiling them? They don't need to focus so much on survival...
It is a sad story, but don't be sorry!
As one said earlier these roos get to live happy, so many are not able to. The rooster was a hatchery bird, the hen was an auction rescue. She wasn't well when i bought her, i had nursed her better and given her a much better life! Unfortunately...
My rooster was also a hatchery boy, a little EE that i picked out of the bin at our supply store. He stood so proud and cocked his little eye at me, i just knew he was "my" roo! I bought him and a half dozen RIR hen-chicks. At 3 mo, i had a great coon raid that wiped out my entire flock-except...