Tree sleep?

[folgerrd]

We just adopted a roo named Not-Cornelius and he got away! He has continuously been trying to return, but we seem to scare him off. We located him sleeping in a tree, at a guess over twenty feet up, on a branch. Will he be safe there? It's near two clearings(on either side) but we live way out in the bush. (he is near enough to our house). We have tried luring him down, but he is asleep and unwakeable. What should we do?

 

[folgerrd]

bump

 

[TeamChaos]

Is this his first nite in the tree or has he been on the run for a while now? We've had the occasional rooster decide to sleep out in the open air and our guineas do it regularly; I think the odds are in his favor if he hasn't been doing it long. If owls and other prey birds aren't in the habit of hunting those trees for smaller birds and he hasn't done anything to attract attention, it'd be blind luck for them to pick him off on nite one. As for ground predators, I don't know what the usual range of tree climbers is- but again, without an compilation of droppings to tip them off, I think he's got a good chance.

 

[folgerrd]

This was his first night here, period. Nothing noticed him all through the night, but now he is crowing his head off and we still can't get him down! We are laving him alone for a bit, in hopes that if we are not there to scare him he'll come back. But, he's crowed at least ten times since, and our poor neighbors are still asleep! How do I get him down?

P.S. @TeamChaos, thanks for replying!

 

[donrae]

He'll come down as the day goes on. Catching him may be another thing entirely, though. And I'm curious, you're worried about him crowing and your neighbors? He's going to crow once you catch him and keep him in a coop............aren't they still going to hear him?

 

[folgerrd]

Well my understanding is he crows at sunlight, correct? If I keep him in coop 'till later, no waking up neighbors at 4 am.

But anyway, catching him proved difficult, he ate and ran, mated and ran etc. He clearly doesn't want to come back. Our traps have played out uselessly and it's getting dark, I've had to stay home all dyaand watch for him, chase him, trap him. It wouldn't be so hard if we had a feild but we're in the woods.

 

[donrae]

Roosters will still crow in the coop. Or during a full moon. Or when they're feeling horny. Or when they hear another rooster. Or when they just want to hear their heads rattle. Sorry.

Once they start roosting high up in a tree it's hard to break them, their brain says it's the safest place to be. Maybe if he can't get any hens to follow him he'll follow them into the coop after a while, but it's probably going to take time. He'll settle down and get more used to you and maybe you can catch him then.

 

[folgerrd]

He didn't crow this morning and I'm getting worried! Does that mean something got him, or could the fog mess him up a bit?

Our neighbors said they don't mind a roo too much, they've had chickens before and know the ropes and the attachment you get, so they won't be mad(they even helped to find him) I just figured If I can keep him quiet, might as well.

We tried something a neighbor suggested, We took yarn, tied an end to the tree and the other to her ankle(not so she'd be dangling but so she'd be able to walk around without being able to get away) in hopes that we could literally catch them in the act. Or rather him. But he got on and was done before we could catch him, my poor hen! She was all like "What about snuggle time?!" My two year old brother watched the display, and had no idea what was happening, but started calling Cornelius "Da Bad Ticken" because he "Huwt da ticken!"

 

[Matthew3590]

Roosters do not always crow the same time every day. Could be a number of factors, but I would assume he is still doing good.

 

[folgerrd]

He is doing great! We caught him! It all happened when the dog broke loose and attacked him, we were worried he had been hurt! Luckily it's just his pride(his big beautiful tail feathers are gone

) We searched 'till we found him and as it got later we whistled to put him to sleep and snatched him. He is now in recovery from minor cuts and lack of sleep. He is doing great!