Found a very sweet rooster in Clearwater, Florida in our yard....

[chics in the sun]

Yep, he is older than 6 weeks. Can you get a shot of his whole body? I'd guess Old English Game of some sort, maybe a cross? Not a breed I'm very familiar with - those are a bantam breed, which mean they are smaller than regular size chickens. Most people keep them outdoors. People who do keep them in the house often put chicken diapers on them. The mess is just too much otherwise, as I'm sure you are finding out! You can keep him outside and just try and get him into a cage or dog kennel of some sort at night.

 

[sheila3935]

From the picture he looks full grown. A bantam maybe OEGB. At 6 weeks his comb would not be that big. You can keep him in a large cage like an inside dog kennel. He sounds like he would be a great pet. Unfortunatly I live in Illinois and right now am over run with roos that I am rehoming. I HATE it when people dump animals and it sounds like that is what happened. I have a beautiful boxer/boston terrier mix that someone dumped here. She walked up one day and said hi I'm home.

Chickens are very hard not to get attached to. The problem with rehoming is not knowing what their fate will be. Can your mom take him? I know that is a long way from you but if you are planning a visit this summer or she is could you hold him til then? They are really not hard to keep. Easier then a dog. All they need is good food water and a place to sleep. I had bantams in the house all winter. They are my DD's and we got then just as winter was approching and didnt have a coop for them and I didnt want them out with the big girls for fear they would hurt them. This is what they stayed in all winter. I got it online and cost about 100 dollars

 

[chics in the sun]

Would you like to put a link on the Florida thread? It is in the "where are you, where am I section". (Let me know if you want me to do it)
I'll be going to a swap (or several) sometime in the next 6 weeks or so, and could take him to give him to someone if you find someone that wants him and can meet me at one.

 

[JPM2600]

Well chics & Sheila - I spoke to my mom up in Ohio, and she wants my son to bring it up with him when he goes up for his summer visit next month. I'd actually like it if that were the outcome here - what I need to find out before making any decision is if my son can take him on a plane. If he can take him on the plane - then I'm going to keep the little guy until then

Yes, he HAS grown on us - very much!!

Someone mentioned chicken diapers - are those an actual product of something you have to make yourself?

I'm getting quite a crash course here....never in my life did I think I'd have a rooster in my house! LoL Thanks to EVERYONE for all the feedback and suggestions so far!!!


To Sheila - I love your picture!! I have a large dog cage that I tried to put him in so I could bring him out in the house with us. He was okay with it for a couple of hours, but then he seemed to get very stressed. He kept running around the cage - then he'd stop and look at it (the cage) from top to bottom and then start running around clucking again. We took him out and put him back in the spare room after that happened. Is a cage something they need to get used to gradually?

 

[scratch'n'peck]

You and your family are on quite the chicken adventure-you are a great sport considering even a little rooster can make quite a mess. They do sell chicken diapers on line, but whether its the diaper or the crate he will have to get used to it. I would think the crate would be the easier route. Putting him in the crate with some treats that take a little longer to eat might help. Unfortunately taking him out when he clucks probably trains him to cluck more.

If you put him in there shortly before bedtime that may help. He will calm down after the lights have been off for a while. If he has spent the night in there he may start to see it as his roosting spot.

I hope you find that your son can take him on the plane. If dogs or cats can be taken on the plane why not a chicken? I know that live birds can be express mailed in usps approved bird boxes, too.

 

[JPM2600]

Hey scratch!

I'll give USPS a call....actually, if that is an option - I'll send him up to her much sooner!! Mom is already set up to care for him very well.......she has also promised not to make him into a chicken dinner!!! My youngest, who is 15, has gotten very attached VERY quickly. But....it's becoming more and more of a battle to keep our cat away from him and to keep the room clean - after only 5 days. He IS making quite a mess.....thank GOODNESS for a spare room!!! LoL My oldest son just moved out in Feb and that's the only reason we're able to manage with him right now - we're just cleaning and mopping in there several times a day to keep up with the mess.

I have a question, if you don't mind...whenever I go in to visit and sit with him, I have to put shoes on first because he pecks at my toes relentlessly. Is that just something roosters do, or is he not getting enough to eat?

Thanks!!!

 

[NonnasBabies]

Yes, sometimes I think, they think there worms!!

 

[JPM2600]

Hey chics! I think the photo we have is probably one of the best we're going to get. I don't have a digital camera so we were relying on a phone cam which is dodgy, at best.

I can't put him out in the back yard during the day.....although we have a fenced yard.....there are too many cat's in the neighborhood (mine is one of them!!!) and without adequate shelter, I'm afraid something will happen to him.

I'm going to look into sending him up north to my mother via USPS or with my son in a month when he flies up for the summer....

What happens to the chickens/roosters that are given away at a swap? Although we cannot make this a permanent situation at our home.....I can't bring myself to let this little guy go to some unknown fate

I was just sitting with him for the last 1/2 hour or so......felt so guilty when I had to shut the door and say good night LoL. He doesn't seem to like it when he is first picked up (maybe I'm doing it wrong though!!!) but after a minute or so.....he will settle right down in your lap.

If you're in St Pete - you're more than welcome to come up to Clearwater this weekend and say "hello!" and meet this little guy.....give me some pointers.....maybe what breed he is....ect.

 

[JPM2600]

LoL ok - thanks Barred -

I just wanted to make sure it wasn't because he was hungry!!!

 

[chics in the sun]

Quote:
I may do that. A cage would definately be a good option if it will be a while before you can get him up to your mother. Try putting him in there overnight - he may get used to it. I can't imagine having one of mine in the house - too messy! . It is pretty rare for a domestic cat to go after a full grown chicken - even a bantam. Especially with it being a rooster, he'd be okay as long as he is safe at night when the racoons come out. Especially since he flies so well. My girls freerange all afternoon. Really dogs are your biggest concern.
Since he's just a little bantam breed, I doubt anyone would want him for dumplings or stew. It just depends at swaps. Sometimes someone may be looking for a nice rooster of a certain breed, othertimes they may just be going to 'freezer camp' when you give them away.