September 24, 2021

Roosterless No More!

We've definitely had our chicken woes this year. Our straight-run Dominique chicks turned out to be 75% roosters. We kept one, and then something killed it, leaving behind a pile of feathers. A month or so later, a stray dog killed one of the hens. This isn't the way to grow a flock! Of the six Speckled Sussex pullets I bought last spring, Dan caught a skunk in the chicken coop, eating one of the chicks. It had killed two, leaving us with four. So this summer, we've had six six hens and no rooster. Can't have a self-sustaining flock that way!

Our Sussex are going on five months old, and we reckoned that this time of year, there should be a possibility of finding a Speckled Sussex rooster. Autumn is when folks want to get rid of spring roosters, and Craigslist is full of them. Dozens of rooster ads, for all types ranging in price from $5 to $20 each. But nobody seemed to have Speckled Sussex. Patience and diligence paid off, however, and last week Dan found a Speckled Sussex rooster - for free!

Our new rooster.

He's young enough so that his roostering instincts haven't kicked in yet. But the girls like him, so that's a start. 

Mr. Rooster in the back, two of the girls in the front.

Amazingly, introductions were made with no squabbling, no stand-offs, and no challenges to the existing pecking order. The girls were just as interested in him as he was in them, and everybody got along from the get-go. That's the smoothest chicken introduction we've ever had. 

None of this worked out the way we expected, but I think it worked out well. The Sussex hens are probably closely related, and he comes from different genetic stock. So, he's a good addition in more ways than one.

33 comments:

daisy g said...

Looks like he will have to grow into those feet!
Enjoy your morning alarm!

Leigh said...

He is big! Strangely, he hasn't said a word since he got here. I suspect that will change in the near future, though.

Ed said...

One of the things I miss most about my childhood is raising chickens. I so loved chicken duties. But I just don't live somewhere where I have people who can take care of them for a couple weeks when we are on vacation and I don't want to give up going on vacations. Perhaps when I am old an content to not go anywhere anymore.

Goatldi said...

Congratulations 🎊🎉🎈

A good roo is worth it’s weight in chicks 😆

I love those speckled Sussex they are so charming .I may need to have them add a few to my order when I get my meat birds if they have any available I think I need to make a call this morning. I am so into good laying eye candy as I call it.

Here is too many more roos but not too many.

Nancy In Boise said...

Congrats, that's a pretty flock!

Renee Nefe said...

Congrats on your new roo. Hopefully you end up with a coop full of chicks soon.

Debby Riddle said...

They are picture perfect chickens I admire the breed.

Leigh said...

Ed, critters do tie you down. But at least you have something to look forward to when your traveling days are behind you. :)

Leigh said...

Goatldi, we really like the Speckled Sussex. They are intelligent and excellent foragers. Very friendly too. Highly recommended!

Leigh said...

Thanks, Nancy!

Leigh said...

Renee, I hope so!

Leigh said...

Debby, we've tried a number of breeds and think we'll probably stick with this one. I still have the two Dominique hens, although they tend to stick together while the Sussex form their own little group. Fortunately, they all seem to get along.

wyomingheart said...

Those are beauties! What a perfect meet and greet for you and Dan! Love the rooster crow! Hope he grows a great morning song! We will be getting some chickens next spring, and will be looking for Sussex, after your recommendation and approval! Thanks Leigh!

Hill Top Post said...

Wow, they are beauties! Next spring you will have the cutest little chicks ever.

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

He is a beauty Leigh!

I really miss having chickens. We live in a urban area so it does not work all that well, but did enjoy having the quail the couple of years that we did.

Ed is right - critters do tie you down and it is always a toss up between critters and vacations (our cost of boarding continues to grow the few times we are all gone together). I think if I had to sacrifice something, it would be the vacations as I like animals too much (as long as I can go train in Japan once a year, I am good).

R's Rue said...

What a cutie.

Goatldi said...

Thanks! And as I stumble away shaking head.

Saying “I really don’t need more chickens “ 😆

Leigh said...

Mary, I hope so! You can't see it in these pics, but they are actually tri-color: white, reddish brown, and black; the kind of black that is is an iridescent blue or green in the sun. They are said to gain white feathers with each molt, so they change a little every year.

Leigh said...

Wyomingheart, Dan's very favorite chicken was a Speckled Sussex. She was really smart. He'd let her out of the yard when he peeled bark on pine trees and she'd watch and wait, and then eat the pine beetle larvae under the bark. He was really upset when two stray dogs attacked her. We've had fun trying other breeds, but have liked these the best.

Leigh said...

TB, I have to agree that I don't mind not traveling any more. Our critters are really entertaining (plus I think I'm all traveled out at this stage of the game. :)

Leigh said...

We think so too! I can't wait to see him in his grown-up full-tailed glory.

Boud said...

I have a feeling that maturing will bring on a few tries at crowing. The first couple sound a bit feeble, like a puppy learning to bark! But once he gets the hang of it everyone better be ready!

Leigh said...

Boud, I think it's a maturity thing too. I can't recall at what age our past roosters started crowing, but I did a quick search and the most common answer seems to be around 4 months. Dan didn't think to ask how old he was, because it didn't really matter that much. We have the rooster we were looking for and glad to have him!

Leigh said...

I have the same problem with goats. :)

Susan said...

Speckled Sussex are my favorite breed. I have one remaining hen, Dottie, that follows me like a puppy, chattering away. I do miss having a rooster for the crowing, and for their protective qualities. But I do NOT miss being blindsided at every turn in the chicken yard.

Leigh said...

Susan, ooo, an aggressive roo is not a good thing to have. We won't keep an aggressive roo. If they aren't polite to humans, they gotta go!

Donna said...

A happy ending!

Rain said...

All of your roosters look beautiful Leigh. Thank you so much for your dear comment on my blog last week, it meant a lot. ♥♥

tpals said...

Handsome fellow. Hope they stay safe. Autumn is when I have to be extra vigilant against opossums.

Leigh said...

Aw, Rain. You're welcome. Bloggers make a great community, don't they? :)

Leigh said...

Tpals, we've lost chickens to 'possums, so yes, we're on the alert. Lately, we've had an overpopulation of skunks, as in, Dan has re-homed more than a dozen in the past couple of months. We're beginning to think they're coming back!

Helberg Farm Stories said...

We spent 3-weeks straight trying to stop whatever monster was killing our chickens. We thought we had all the freak entry points fixed/blocked and yet they still got in. We finally broke down and took cinder blocks, dug down about a foot, placed the blocks in on their sides which made it look like coming up against a brick wall to digging predators. Piled them up over the bottom of our wire so they appeared attached and covered with dirt up to the top couple of inches. No matter where/how they dug - they would get cement. It FINALLY kept the monsters at bay. Ticked me off cuz we have tons of rabbits, gophers, prarie dogs around but they choose our birds - jerks!

Leigh said...

That is so frustrating! And you're right, unfortunately, everybody loves chicken. Sounds like you put a lot of work into protecting your chickens, but you've obviously done a good job. Keeping chickens safe is worth it.