A Visiting Chicken in my yard. Please help me!

[OrpingtonManor]

Quote:

That's a good one! If he is a young rooster, a cockerel, then he might not be crowing yet. Roosters do eventually grow spurs on their legs. That is probably what you were told. Also, their hackle (neck/cape) feathers are pointed on the ends, not as rounded as a hen. And their saddle feathers (just in front of the tail) are also often pointed, whereas a hen's would be rounded. They usually have a bigger comb and wattles, but if yours has a pea comb, it might be harder to tell at this age. If he is a rooster, he will eventually crow.

 

[speckledhen]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I think someone dumped a rooster on you. In fact, there is no doubt it's a rooster.

 

[Casey3043]

Speaking of dumping, I think that rather than being a "stray", this young guy is a "dumpee", left by the side of the road by someone who couldn't keep a rooster. There are people out there who will do this with unwanted roos, as well as with dogs and cats. Fortunately, there are lots of US who take in strays and give them good homes or find someone to take care of them.

You are kind-hearted and generous to want to take care of him, and I hope you are able to keep him. And, as someone said, this is the first step into the fascinating and addictive world of chicken keeping!

Best of luck to you, and keep us posted. And, I do hope that we are wrong and that "he" is a hen!

 

[greenpalm]

Quote:
I believe you, but can you please tell me how you are so certain (obviously you have lots of experience, I just want to know what you see!)

Thanks so much,

My dad has 15 acres, but he doesn't keep livestock at all. Maybe the roo can go live there, or maybe dad has a neighbor that will take him. We'll find him a good home, and take good care of him in the meantime.

Do people dump them because they are illegal, or because it's too hard to have more than one? Or what?

Thanks to everyone. He's in pretty good hands for now, and I'll make sure he's taken care of, and yes, more than likely I'll be back around with a few hens.

Julie

 

[MeatKing]

I think he's a great looking bird.. I couldn't guess the sex of a bird (too new to this) but I will speculate that someone would dump a roo because some places you can't have them.. Plus if it was someone hatching their own eggs.. You don't get a choice on sex.. so maybe they had too many? I know too many roosters will fight..
Good-luck!

 

[elmo]

If this bird is indeed a rooster and you need to rehome him, you could try joining and posting on this group:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWPoultry/

If you're looking for more chickens, too, this is a good place to start. I got my flock this summer from a local bird enthusiast, and I'm so glad I went this route rather than ordering chicks through the mail from a hatchery.

 

[avalon23]

It is a rooster because it has spurs on it's legs. It looks to be a young roo, the spurs aren't very big yet but they will get rather long. Also, the tail feathers are a pretty dead giveaway as well (long & green), hens don't have long tail feathers.

You will need to provide some sort of closed shelter for him if you plan to keep him. Otherwise a predator might get him at night or even during the day. If you live in the city/town without a fenced backyard, it will be the safest to build some sort of area for him. A coop would be the best, just look up "chicken coop plans" online. here is a site that has a nice one.

http://isthmushandyman.com/Chicken Coop Designs/index.html

goodluck, & keep us updated on your new Roo! If you can't keep him you can advertise him on craigslist and I'm sure someone that lives in the country will take him.

 

[cnj-tx50]

If you post him on craigslist maybe include a picture. I have an Americanna roo and that looks just like him and people are always wanting to buy him. They are very sweet and mine only crows in the am and very rarely more than three times. Someone will want him for their flock.

 

[WalkingWolf]

You deff have a roo, but you should keep him anyway. They don't eat much as they find their own food, they just need clean water. He will keep the bugs down in your yard, and if you can get him to come to you without another chicken he probably will become very friendly. If you decide you want a hen for him it should not be hard to find one.

I had 5 EE roos, now down to 2, I sold them to Hispanics for stewing. But they so far have been the quietest roos out of all the ones I have had.

 

[speckledhen]

Dangly saddle feathers coming off the back are a 100% positive sign of a rooster, just like in sonew's picture of hers, who could be the twin to yours.

In pea combed breeds, the hens never get those huge, stand up, wide combs like that, either. Hens can have spurs so I never go by that. I've had two hens with spurs.

ETA: moved this here so you could get confirmation of the sex of your new bird.