4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Henhathnofury]

Everyone I have talked to, everything I have read, led to me believe that the Speckled Sussex is a calm, docile, friendly and curious breed.

 

So why have I got one who pecks, grumbles and does other unspeakable things to her mates? Today I found her with her top half of her body in the nesting box, after having already laid an egg on the bars. Struggling beneath her enormous weight, like a very panicked losing WWF wrestler, was my poor Light Sussex. She was also trying to lay an egg but was clearly caught up in my evil one's frilly knickers. I don't think she could breathe and I hate to think what might have happened if we had not intervened.

 

I thought that she might have been moody because of the scaly leg mite we think she came with from the farm. But this has been treated and her legs are now fine. Her personality gets worse. One of my other chickens is poorly again and I had let her out briefly to wash her bottom, when the bully pushed past her, knocking her off her weak legs. She is also known for stepping on chickens as they are dustbathing or worse, plucking at them until they give up and run away.

 

Can someone please tell me they have one who is as evil? I am struggling to read those benign descriptions in the guidebooks now......

[Olly]

oh dear, sorry can't help ... but your description above has made me laugh a lot!

[Redwing]

I guess chickens can be a lot like humans - there is always some idiot that ruins it for everyone else

 

I think its down to personality rather than breed

[Patricia W]

There's a job for someone here - chicken whisperer.... Chickcologist...

[Ness3103]

my speckeldy is quite sweet most of the time but she has started being a bit mean to my little ebony every now and then she grabs ebony's comb and shakes her she hasn't drawn blood yet but poor ebony screams. i've got a water pistol ready now. she does sometimes shove the others out of the way but i think it's because she's bigger than them and just barges her way around the run

[Henhathnofury]

Well I attempted to give her a cuddle and she tried to peck the freckles off my nose, then trod on my foot and grumbled her way away.

 

It's good to know that there are evil members of the SS out there too. It's either a conspiracy, or alien invasion. She does have a funny look in her eyes......

[mostin]

Sorry to laugh at your distress but your description is very funny .

 

I think it must be down to individual personality. One of our exbatts is very similar. Officially she is called Tulip, but she never gets that anymore, she is referred to as 666 or devil chicken. "Ooops, word censored!"ody is allowed any peace when she is around, a sleeping chicken is a fun target, and all food bowls are hers . Her behaviour is becoming a bit modified now by the fact that at free range time there are two water pistols trained on her at all times .

 

At least my devil chicken is tiny, I hate to think what she would get up to if she was the size of a speckled sussex .

[LaPoule]

I have a very young Light Sussex bantam, who hasn't gone as far as yours (yet:wink: ), but she lowers her head and pushes her wings back to charge at Goya, the Appenzeller! She reminds me of a little bullet chicken, which is what I've taken to calling her, rather than Hastings (as she's a Sussex )

[Space Chick]

I have a Jekyll and Hyde Speckledy. Is so sweet with me and OH, very affectionate and cuddly. But if one of the other girls upsets her (by walking the wrong way, breathing etc etc) she turns on them like she's possessed. Then 2 seconds later they are best of friends again. She is a strange one

[smanners]

Yep, our Speckledy is the evil one She's ok with humans but swears, grumbles and lashes out at the other hens with no warning. She's permanently stroppy and unpredictable

She went broody for 6 weeks and we had to give her some chicks to raise.

In fairness she's been a perfect mum and is very gentle with her babies.

[Henhathnofury]

Oddly, a baby sparrow was on the ground and she simply stood looking at it. As I whisker it away, I swear her eyes were watery and she had that 'come to mama' look. I think she would make a good mother and I often imagine her as one of those very protective bossy mamas in a pinny, battering everyone who gets in her way with a rolling pin. When she submits, she is the most graphic of all the chickens - I get a completely upended view of her frilly knickers, as if a cockerel is always in the forefront of her desires.

 

I think she might be...um...sexually frustrated....

[Ness3103]

[mostin]

Well...........speckled sussex are well known for their broodyness and their hormones. Maybe it is all frustrated motherhood or "otherwise".

 

Perhaps she needs a "special friend"