I've got a bit of a saga going on regarding my neighbors rooster that wont stay in his own yard. The whole story is in another section, but the short version is that, now that my roo is gone, the neighbors roo has taken a huge interest in my hens and finds a way into my yard several times a day, every day. I've been keeping my girls locked up until I figure out how to discourage or stop him (non-violently and while maintaining a good relationship with my neighbor!). He's using the trees to get over the fence, apparently.
ANYHOW- he's definitely on the low end of his own flocks' pecking order (there are at least 2 other roos) so I get that he's trying to claim my girls as his own. My concern is: IF he did win them over, would he try to lead them back to his home, or would he be more inclined to stay here with them? I've caught him free ranging with my girls before and they all get along fine (actually, my girls totally ignore him, LOL!) & I dont really mind *that*, but I dont want him to "steal" them, kwim? I'd be less worried about his presence in my yard if I knew that they'd stay put.
Before anyone can suggest it- No. I dont want to adopt him or keep him. Dont get me wrong, I actually really like him- but I also like not having to run out to the coop at dawn to shut the rooster up before he can bother my other neighbors. Plus, I'm fairly sure that one of the chicks in my brooder is a boy & he's turning out to be really pretty & I may decide to keep him (if he's nice & I get over my aversion to roosters by then!).
ANYHOW- he's definitely on the low end of his own flocks' pecking order (there are at least 2 other roos) so I get that he's trying to claim my girls as his own. My concern is: IF he did win them over, would he try to lead them back to his home, or would he be more inclined to stay here with them? I've caught him free ranging with my girls before and they all get along fine (actually, my girls totally ignore him, LOL!) & I dont really mind *that*, but I dont want him to "steal" them, kwim? I'd be less worried about his presence in my yard if I knew that they'd stay put.
Before anyone can suggest it- No. I dont want to adopt him or keep him. Dont get me wrong, I actually really like him- but I also like not having to run out to the coop at dawn to shut the rooster up before he can bother my other neighbors. Plus, I'm fairly sure that one of the chicks in my brooder is a boy & he's turning out to be really pretty & I may decide to keep him (if he's nice & I get over my aversion to roosters by then!).