I guess I have a rooster now!

[ashlkfnl]

Thank you all for your replies on my inquiry about his breed!
I went to my neighbors house (far away, almost a half mile) and asked them about the rooster. They said he just wanders and they don’t feed him. My closest neighbor besides them that has chickens is over 5 miles away.
He just pranced right up to my hens and “claimed” them as his own! Walked right into their coop and ate their food (I’m sure he was hungry, not being fed by the neighbors ) and walked right around like he owned the place. ‘Cock’y if you ask me!
So I think it’s safe to say I now am the proud owner of a random rooster!
Is there anything I need to know about keeping a rooster when my flock doesn’t free range most of the time?
I also keep them in a coop with an attached small run. Is there anything I need to modify?
I don’t know if I would keep the chicks. From the post replies on my previous post, I understand he is moderately rare? I have rhode island red hens, and he is a old english game rooster. Has anyone crossed those breeds before?
Just a bunch of questions. I would appreciate any answers you give! I’m new to the whole rooster thing.
(please excuse my dirty coop, it’s been so hot and I was gone for a few weeks.)

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

If he is a game then he can fend for himself just fine. In fact a lot of gamefowl owners let there birds (females and stags) free-range. I would talk to the owner games are a pretty penny each. So don't just take him thinking you are doing the right thing.

Back to the topic at hand. The main thing I can think of is not to feed him layer pellets.

 

[nuthatched]

You really shouldn't let him around your girls until you've quarantined him and confirmed that he's healthy for about a month.
There's no reason that your neighbors should have fed him, not owning him and he's a game breed, he doesn't need his meals brought to him, he can take care of himself just fine. Also, with the chance of bird flu still around, it's better not to attract stray birds to the area.
As for rarity, maybe 'uncommon' is a better term.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Quarantine might be a moot point if he's already been in proximity of the hens.

If you don't want chicks, just make sure to pick up eggs daily and there won't be any noticeable development in the eggs.

 

[Silexian]

Like others have mentioned. He should have been quarantined. Since he has already had contact with your flock. It would do no good to quarantine him now. Good, bad or otherwise whatever is going to happen. Is going to happen. No matter if he stays or goes. He is some sort of game cock. Old English usually have pearl colored legs. Game cocks are excellent flock look outs and take great care of their ladies. You shouldn’t have to change anything if you want to let him stay. As for cross breeding. It will also not be a problem. Games do not lay very well and go broody quite often. They are scrawny and do not make a good table fowl. So he will counter all the desirable traits of your Rhode Island hens.

 

[jus10inla]

Well placed aim would take care of it too

 

[Folly's place]

He's handsome, and as mentioned, quarantining him is a wasted effort. If you can look him over, at night when he's roosting, look for mites or lice, so you can treat everyone if any are found. He's going to be very unlikely to accept any other roosters, which is fine as long as you only want the one.
He's landed in clover! Feed everyone an all-flock type feed, with separate oyster shell, and appreciate him as a good flock addition.
Mary
Has this neighbor claimed to own him? If yes, that's potentially a problem. Hard to defend ownership if the bird has no food or shelter offered though.

 

[jus10inla]

Hard to defend ownership if the bird has no food or shelter offered though

Gamefowl dont require food or shelter. They will forage for themselves as well as seek shelter.. normaly at the minimum of 10 ft off the ground

 

[jus10inla]

Feed everyone an all-flock type feed, with separate oyster shell, and appreciate him as a good flock addition.

Stick with the feed you always have. Again, this is a gamefowl. Dont change your ever day way for a bird who is gona take care of itself.

 

[Folly's place]

Kansas is not Louisiana! Explain how any chicken can make it with no added food or shelter in a blizzard?! Feral chickens can do fairly well in the semi-tropics, not so much where there's actually winter.
Mary