SAEDNEWS: THE world's biggest chicken aptly named "Weirdo" was so large and ferocious he severed fingers and killed cats.
According to SAEDNEWS, Half a century ago, a unique creature roamed the earth—a chicken so immense that it rivaled the size of a medium-sized dog. Meet Weirdo, a remarkable rooster born in 1970 from an egg so large that it left his mother exhausted and unable to lay any more eggs. Weirdo was nothing short of a phenomenon, earning his place in the Guinness Book of Records during the ‘70s and ‘80s as the world's heaviest chicken and maintaining his title as the largest rooster in history.
Growing at an astonishing rate, Weirdo didn't just grow in size; he also developed a fierce and aggressive temperament. His owner, Grant Sullens from West Point, California, had a challenging time managing this colossal chicken. Reports suggest that Grant had to receive eight stitches after a particularly fierce encounter with Weirdo. The superchicken’s aggression didn't stop there—he was also known for taking down two cats and even injured a dog, leaving one fan unfortunate enough to lose a fingertip to the bird's wrath!
Weirdo wasn’t just an accident of nature; he was the result of a decade-long breeding plan masterminded by Grant Sullens. After witnessing his chickens succumb to the cold, Grant aimed to create a breed that would not only survive harsh conditions but thrive in them. Armed with a microscope, tin-can incubators, and support from his school teacher, Grant began crossbreeding various chicken types, including Rhode Island Reds and Austrian Cross Whites.
He never disclosed the exact mix that resulted in Weirdo, fearing that other breeders might replicate his success. The new breed eventually earned the name 'White Sully,' after its creator. These hybrid chickens grew quickly, boasted excellent meat quality, strong bone structure, and displayed remarkable resistance to diseases like cancer. True to Grant's goal, they flourished even in bitterly cold environments.
When asked about the origin of Weirdo’s peculiar name, Grant simply remarked, “What else could you call something like that?” He affectionately described Weirdo as practically invincible, stating, “I've kicked this rooster, hit him with a feed bucket, and slugged him when he got me down, but I haven't hurt him one bit.” The sheer audacity of Weirdo’s size and temperament captivated the public, and both the chicken and its owner began to attract significant media attention.
Weirdo's fame extended beyond the world of poultry, with discussions about a potential film swirling around him. Filmmaker Errol Morris even drafted a screenplay in 1980 titled "Weirdo," chronicling Grant Sullens and his journey to breed the superchicken. Unfortunately, the film never came to fruition, and over time, both Grant and Weirdo faded from the limelight.
By the 1990s, a new contender emerged in the Guinness Book of Records—a mega-chicken named “Big Snow,” who dethroned Weirdo as the heaviest chicken in the world. However, the legend of Weirdo the superchicken remains an unforgettable part of poultry history, showcasing the remarkable and sometimes bizarre intersections of nature, breeding, and human ambition.
In a world where ordinary chickens rule, Weirdo reminds us that sometimes, the extraordinary can take flight!
