A rooster adopted us....

[Jenny McGregor]

We live in a suburban neighborhood surrounded by little farms. One day a young Rhode Island Red rooster came to our birdfeeder and hung out for a week. We bought feed for him and gave him water, and took him in for a couple of very cold nights. Folks who know think that he was thrown out of the flock because the owner had too many roosters. So we now have him and are in the process of building him a coop to keep warm and safe at night. Do you think he will be ok living on his own in our yard with no hens? He is free to leave us, but he stays around to eat and sleep in our tree. Any advice on how to care for this young fellow would be appreciated. Thank you!!
We have all fallen in love with him.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Polite cocks and cockerels are wonderful, but he needs a flock to be a happy bird. It's safest from a disease standpoint to get chicks from a good hatchery, and it's late in the year for that. BUT, if having chickens suddenly looks like a good thing, go for it!
Is it legal to have chickens, and roosters, where you live? If not, they are hard to hide, and finding him another home would be best.
Fresh eggs from your own hens are the best!!!
Mary

 

[Jenny McGregor]

Hi Mary, Thank you for your answer. Our neighborhood does not allow chickens, but our neighbors do not mind, and are happy to have him. But, I am not sure we can have a rooster crowing if he has hens. I called some local farms and no one wants this young rooster. I don't want to cull him (the new word I learned), so we want to give him the best shot he can have. Right now he hangs out with the birds at our birdfeeder. Jenny

 

[Folly's place]

He will crow!!! It is difficult to find homes for extra cockerels, and some jerk solved his problem by dumping him at your place, thus shifting his guilt on to you. Same as dumping dogs, cats, or whatever, ugly.
Unfortunately, it's likely that some neighbor or other will call the law on you at some point. I hope not, but it is probable.
Wishing you the best, Mary

 

[laughingdog]

Two "dual" to "heavy" hens, instead of "light" breed "pullets", should work best for him, as will keep him busy enough not too many chickens around (hens can be louder and more destructive than cocks or roos). Maybe bring him inside in dog crate or parrot cage rabbit cage etc in evening to late morning so doesn't disturb neighbors if when he starts crowing.. or sound proofing coop as can and have shut up those hours minus ventilation.

 

[aart]

The rooster didn't 'adopt' you, someone dumped it and he found food in your yard.

Our neighborhood does not allow chickens, but our neighbors do not mind, and are happy to have him. But, I am not sure we can have a rooster crowing if he has hens.

He may crow without any other chickens around...and everyone may be enamored now, but not likely that will last.

Unfortunately, it's likely that some neighbor or other will call the law on you at some point. I hope not, but it is probable.

Agrees. If chickens are not allowed, I would not bother making housing for bird(s) that could get you fined. Take him to one of those farms or animal control.

 

[laughingdog]

I had cockers next door that were grandfathered in in middle of city to raise gamecocks, that would toss out losers of one way of another for hawk bait etc or just to slowely die of injuries starving n cold in winter.. well the ones that lived would come over to our condo because a neighbor on other side fed songbirds and them letting sleep on their balcony. They hardly crowed and feral cats another neighbor down way fed, kept them and songbirds in check. Well I asked manager if I could keep some hens in my yard space if just made look good to get some fresh eating eggs and hatch them for school children etc. She said that was fine, so I got waaaay into getting different kinds and colors etc, n eventually had to cut back to bantams as they are technically not poultry,for show and pet class, that won that case against city and property owner. Before getting rid of production type chickens though, I trained them with a chicken sounding shriek that said to hide, that they eventually did whenever heard new people coming. Pigeons btw are supposed to be protected under migratory bird act and a few other official presidential decrees signed into law, if they are banded especially, or free flying (which I'd do releasing when city inspected, and said they'd just have free fliers shot etc if I didn't call them in to be taken and put down, because trained sort of like chickens where I'd just release, because the city said if they were able to seize before my court order went through, they could charge so much daily for how they would hold, or put them all down that to next day and charge me for cost of (so sadly I got bitter and battled wits with little city I was in until higher authorities could take over, because when sent city away first two times politely but knowledgeable, they then had city workers come out to shoot etc n seize my animals illegally, to which I shot back and released my dogs when I'd leave after planting cover everywhere. Point being fighting city officials is ultimately a loosing battle in long run unless you boot corrupt ones out with sheer force of numbers. So if your going to keep him for now do it low key, maybe get Velcro straps to make a "no crow collar", and lobby to right higher officials with signed agreements from neighbors to keep poultry foul etc in some way under acceptable conditions.. it smoothes the road and then neighbors won't get jealous because you have chickens but they are to scared because it's illegal or they are misinformed about non existent health risks compared to normal urban pets and wildlife, proven promoted by commercial poultry industry and extermination industry (one housecat housemouse or parrot is much more "potentially" dangerous than having a dozen chickens or hundred pigeons). Other point to look at keeping him is, if he is Rhode island red, he may get aggressive once hormones kick in (these can be stopped before starts by holding on back in arms like a baby stroking softly, petting n rubbing etc).

 

[Jenny McGregor]

Thank you, everyone, for your responses! I feel blessed that you took the time to help me. We put our rooster in his coop for tonight. My son did some research and it seems if he were neutered, he would not be inclined to crow, and we could get him a companion hen. I think crowing would get us in trouble with the neighborhood, but honestly, nobody cares if we have chickens. What do you think of making him a Capon? It might be too late, he is a big fellow, but we were told he looks young. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kind Backyard Chicken Folks!

 

[Folly's place]

Neutering cockerels is best done when they are very young, before they have many adult traits. Trying the surgery on more mature birds OFTEN results in fatal bleeding, because of the structures involved. Sorry, but It's unlikely to be a good option for your boy.
Mary

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

If I were you, I wouldn't get him a companion unless he seems lonely. He should be fine by himself as long as you interact with him.

Nonlaying chickens, like roosters, don't need the extra calcium in layer feed and it can damage them if used for long term. Instead, you could feed him grower, flock raiser, or all flock feed.

Hope this helps!