Hi all NC BYC members. I'm turning to you before I go to Craigslist.
I have a Speckled Sussex hen I need to re-home. She's 2 1/2 years old and a hatchery bird. I bought her as part of my first flock from a local farm and garden store. She's been a good layer. My problem is her temperment. I've come to the conclusion (with advice from BYC forum) that she is just plain mean and bossy. She's part of my original flock - and they all got along fine. Things have changed.
I started my flock with day-old chicks in March of 2010. In June of 2010, 2 of my "pullets" crowed during a thunderstorm and had to be re-homed. I happily had 4 hens, laying well and getting along fine. Last summer, 2011, I lost a Columbian Wyandotte hen to the heat. Down to 3 hens. July 2012 I added 3 day-old RIR chicks to my broody Speckled Sussex hen. She raised them just fine. My surviving Columbian Wyandotte hen even took over raising them when "mama" was done with them at about 5 weeks. This hen - Emmadine - has never accepted them. She almost pecked one of them to death when it was 4 weeks old. The chick somehow healed in isolation for 2 weeks, then went back to the flock. She went right back to attacking it and the other two every chance she gets. It never stops. Emmadine chases them away from food, treats, water and won't let them roost at night. Wherever Emmadine goes, the RIR's are on the opposite side of the chicken run. They RUN from her to get away every chance they get.
I have isolated her from the flock on 2 different occasions hoping that removing her would change the "pecking order" and her behavior. She just spent the last week in isolation again. This evening I put her back in with the flock who were already roosting. She went right into the coop and started pecking at the RIR's. She even had a beak full of feathers! The poor RIR's are terrified of her.
I've decided that if I can't change her behavior, I think she needs a new home. I'm hesitant to put her on Craigslist. I know I have no control over what happens to her once she leaves my coop, but she's nice to me, and nice to my other hen. She just hates the RIR's and I can't stand seeing them constantly being tortured by her.
If there's anyone out there who has room for a Speckled Sussex hen in their flock please message me. I can meet you somewhere.
Thank you all for any advice/suggestions as well.
Cecily
nice to meet you I live down here in polk off of 108 so howdy neighbor 
