Tell hubby Mr. Stripes will earn his keep by protecting the girls! Mine has called the girls to safety a zillion times when mid-town hawks were looking for a chicken dinner. He hollered at them about an owl tonight!
It's his job to keep them happy and look out for them!
My Rooster is NOT a freeloader!! He faught off a raccoon, and if any of his ladies hollars he is RIGHT there to defend them.
I can count on him to a) defend his ladies and b) sound the alarm for me and the hens to hear.
He was possibly going to freezer camp because you don't "need" roosters, but that was before the raccoon attack.
If you can keep him I would! (I'm assuming he's legal since you mentioned the neighbors' roos, and I'm assuming he's fairly well mannered since you aren't complaing about that)
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If you decide to keep him, I'd stop hand feeding him. Often times the ones that had been babied and were friendly as babies get nasty when the hormones kick in. They don't recognize you as the alpha, so will challenge you. Not all roosters will, but I don't take chances. He's a gorgeous boy!
I have to hand feed one of mine, but my daughters handle him constantly, and he has remained gentle as he's gotten older...but he gets wrapped in a towel or blanket and carried around so perhaps that's dominating him enough that he remains #2 in his mind...