Pesky visiting rooster

[ksguy]

A few weeks ago a mystery rooster showed up outside our coop. He's gorgeous but he's getting my 7 hens all worked up pacing around the outside of their run. He comes generally on weekends but has shown up a few weekdays as well. The trouble is that my daughter (3 y/o) is scared to death of roosters since she was attacked by one last fall, so she doesnt even want to play in our own backyard.

Yesterday I figured out who he belongs to and took him home. I must have looked quite silly walking 1/4 mile down the road with a rooster tucked under my arm (we live in a rural area). Anyway when the kid came to the door I told him the problem and asked them to clip his wings so he could no longer fly over their fence. I ran into the dad as I was leaving and told him the same thing. Well this morning my daughter woke us up yelling that the silly rooster is back.

Would it be out of line to clip his wings myself before returning him again?

 

[N F C]

Truthfully, I wouldn't bother clipping his wings or returning him again. I think Mr. Roo should quietly disappear (into a stew pot). You already explained the problem to the owner and nothing was done about it. If you take it upon yourself to clip the rooster's wings, the owner might have a problem with that then you would be the one in trouble.

 

[ksguy]

That's been my thought but my wife is hesitant. Shortly after I posted the original question I caught him in the garden. Thankfully he hasn't scratched up the onions or taters yet, and nothing else is planted. I will be planting this afternoon though.

I think he may get one more chance to go home, then next time I catch him here I'll tell my wife I'm sending him home and when I get out of sight I'll send him on "home" if you know what I mean.

 

[centrarchid]

To be neighborly, inform. Trimming would fall under harassment. If bird classified as livestock then keeping would constitute theft even if found on your land. Likely you have local laws describing legal options.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If you clip both wings the rooster can still fly almost as good as he could with all his wing feathers intact. To work only the primary flight feathers on one wing is clipped which makes Mr. Rooster fly around and around in small little circles.

 

[ksguy]

Well he isn't letting me anywhere near him today. He's trying to figure out how to get into the coop now that my girls have gone to roost for the night. He's been irritating me all day. Hopefully he goes home and stays there tonight.

 

[bobbi-j]

Well he isn't letting me anywhere near him today. He's trying to figure out how to get into the coop now that my girls have gone to roost for the night. He's been irritating me all day. Hopefully he goes home and stays there tonight.

Or - with any luck - he'll start hanging around at night and something will get him.

 

[bigoledude]

A few weeks ago a mystery rooster showed up outside our coop. He's gorgeous but he's getting my 7 hens all worked up pacing around the outside of their run. He comes generally on weekends but has shown up a few weekdays as well. The trouble is that my daughter (3 y/o) is scared to death of roosters since she was attacked by one last fall, so she doesnt even want to play in our own backyard.

Yesterday I figured out who he belongs to and took him home. I must have looked quite silly walking 1/4 mile down the road with a rooster tucked under my arm (we live in a rural area). Anyway when the kid came to the door I told him the problem and asked them to clip his wings so he could no longer fly over their fence. I ran into the dad as I was leaving and told him the same thing. Well this morning my daughter woke us up yelling that the silly rooster is back.

Would it be out of line to clip his wings myself before returning him again?

Honestly, I'd clip his spinal column about an inch below his little raging hormone head! Or, a well placed pellet-through-the-gullet.

 

[ksguy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. He was back this morning, and he brought a buddy along (the buddy was actually at our house briefly yesterday - turns out he's in the picture above) - they were out there right after sunrise when I was getting up to get ready for work. My wife talked to one of our other neighbors from farther down the road and was told that they lost a couple chickens to foxes recently. It'd be a shame if those foxes found these roosters on the loose and made off with dinner. Truly a shame.

 

[N F C]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. He was back this morning, and he brought a buddy along (the buddy was actually at our house briefly yesterday - turns out he's in the picture above) - they were out there right after sunrise when I was getting up to get ready for work. My wife talked to one of our other neighbors from farther down the road and was told that they lost a couple chickens to foxes recently. It'd be a shame if those foxes found these roosters on the loose and made off with dinner. Truly a shame.

Yep, what a dirty shame.