Could he be a "fighting" cock?

[Yoder Farm]

Hey all, I'm new here and also new to raising chickens. So far they have been great and we enjoy fresh eggs from them daily.

Over the winter, during one of those really bad snowstorms we had here... went outside and was very surprised to see a nearly frozen-to-death rooster in my neighbor's tree. After a few days the neighbor and I were able to coax him down from the tree, and he seems friendly enough. He's taken a liking to our two hens as well and spends a lot of time over in our yard with them. Even roosts with them now. So far we haven't had any problems and the best way I can describe this rooster's life now is "spoiled rotten."

I noticed he doesn't have a comb, and he's got a lot of tan / russet coloration and very pretty feathers that have a bluish iridescent hue. And unlike the hens he has grey legs with huge spurs on them. Another neighbor came by and told me he looked like an "escaped" fighting cock.

Should I be worried about this? As I said he hasn't caused any problems to date and my neighbor loves him so I don't know what to do if it turns out he is an escaped fighting cock. And he's never injured our hens, either and seems to be a "doting" father. If anything he "crows" whenever one of the hens lays and that's how I always know there are eggs.

 

[WriterofWords]

He might have been looking for a better home and you both got lucky!

 

[farmerChef]

Most game breeds have dubbed (removed) combs. You can even get chicks combs dubbed from most hatcheries. I have a rooster that is Game-ish, and he will not tolereate another rooster in the pen. But he is very sweet to his hens, he feeds them, and will sit in the nest with them while they lay eggs.

I know you new so you won't be able to post pics for a while.... go around and post/comment on other posts to get your numbers up. A picture will help greatly.

 

[Yoder Farm]

If I can get a pic of him later on I'll post one. He's very pretty and has two names. We call him "Henry the Red", the neighbor calls him "Doodle." Right now he and the hens are "wandering" around in my neighbor's yard

 

[carrlr]

If he was in fact a "fighting" cock, I don't foresee any problems. UNLESS you try and put another rooster in with him. Other than that you probably have a very fine addition to your flock.

 

[Yoder Farm]

So far no problems at all with him, other than he chases the mallards that come into our yard. And he doesn't like cats much and chases off the strays. Which to me is a plus!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

As long as you haven't had any problems so far i wouldn't worry much. The only thing you might want to watch out for is you have young kids around, just watch them together. Roosters sometimes respond differently to children.

 

[Yoder Farm]

Thanks, yeah I never let small kids in the yard unless me or my husband is able to watch them... not just because of the rooster but because we live in copperhead and water moccasin territory and I've seen copperheads in my gardens at certain times of the year. We have a very pretty creek in our yard and the snakes come from out of the creek sometimes. Now I'm wondering, will a rooster kill or attack a snake if it sees one?

 

[Illia]

Yep, if he was a gamecock, there's no issue in having him except if you've got other males in his access. Gamecocks, now I'm not sure of American Gamefowl, but Orientals at least are VERY friendly, loyal, and tame. Probably the tamest breeds I've ever known.

 

[EasterEggersRULE]

Quote:
He might kill a snake if he sees one but some roosters will walk right past a snake and others will attack it until its good and dead.
Just wait and see i guess. Or you could try a rubber snake and see if he trys to kill it. My 3 1/2 month old roo tried to kill a rubber snake so i think he would try to kill anything that slithers.