I'm sooooo sorry !!! It's terribly creepy to think some freak job has been walking around your place and helping himself.
It's just sick !!
Good luck on finding your roo. I know you don't have pictures but maybe you could put a description of the bird and the man who stole him. Describe his vehicle etc... somebody might call you. Plaster those STOLEN notices everywhere. Feed store, grocery store, gas station.....
I work in Weston all the time. Nice town. I'm sorry to say that I would bet
money that your rooster was stolen by a local illegal. As I'm sure you are
aware we have a lot of illegal immigrant landscapers in this state.
If anyone wants to get mad at me for saying that well tough. It's a reality
here. Most of the guys are just trying to make a living and send money back
home but live chickens are part of their diet and culture. Hopefully he stole
it for food, not sport.
If you want to replace him I have plenty of young roos you can have.
You said that you just acquired the rooster. A couple of considerations to think about while you're wondering ...
Could someone have thought it belonged to them? Perhaps you were in competition for it - even unknown to you.
Did the seller want it back? (Seller's regret)
Could the seller not have been the owner?
Could a neighbor have not enjoyed the noise? (And created a description of a thief)
Seems very strange that the night before someone would carefully leave tarps folded there and then come back in broad daylight to take it. What was different about it during the night that prevented the theft at that time? Just seems like it doesn't make sense to case out a rooster during the night (when it would be easy to pack it off) and come back when it is more difficult and people might see you. Hmmmm
Hope you find some answers - it would drive me crazy to think of someone nosing around my yard.