UPDATE on Wandering Rooster

[sbhkma]

My neighbors about 1/4 mile down the road got some chickens and a rooster last fall. I don't mind the crowing in the least (it's 1/4 mile down the road and we're 1/4 mile back off the road). This morning however, my dogs alerted to something in the brush about 2/3 of the way up my driveway. Turns out it was the rooster. I'm hoping he was just foraging - a LONG way from home (that area is one of the most densely brushy areas around) and isn't trying to come find my hens. I don't have a rooster and don't want one hanging around. He has his OWN girls! Question: is it possible he's trying to find out where the egg-song girls are? Would he come try to breed them? I prefer my hens not be harassed/raped/pestered by a roo, which is why I don't have one. Has anyone else dealt with this?

The dogs and I "herded" the roo towards home by slowly walking toward him. He was visibly upset at the dogs and seemed fine skittering his way back home, fussing the whole way. I don't want my dogs chasing him off the property, as I've worked hard to make sure they understand chickens are NOT to be chased. He's a LOVELY roo... looks to be a Welsummer.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My neighbors about 1/4 mile down the road got some chickens and a rooster last fall. I don't mind the crowing in the least (it's 1/4 mile down the road and we're 1/4 mile back off the road). This morning however, my dogs alerted to something in the brush about 2/3 of the way up my driveway.
Unless it was some time after dawn, he may have wandered your way before dusk and got too lost to return home.
Turns out it was the rooster. I'm hoping he was just foraging - a LONG way from home (that area is one of the most densely brushy areas around) and isn't trying to come find my hens.

I don't have a rooster and don't want one hanging around. He has his OWN girls! Question: is it possible he's trying to find out where the egg-song girls are? Would he come try to breed them? I prefer my hens not be harassed/raped/pestered by a roo, which is why I don't have one.
All possible, but it won't hurt the hens (though it does seem brutal). That is how chickens have survived for hundreds of thousands of years. Some hens, though they squabble, prefer the attention of a rooster. Perhaps like all life.

The dogs and I "herded" the roo towards home by slowly walking toward him.
Good tactic.
He was visibly upset at the dogs and seemed fine skittering his way back home, fussing the whole way. I don't want my dogs chasing him off the property, as I've worked hard to make sure they understand chickens are NOT to be chased.
Also a good move.

 

[sbhkma]

It was about 2 hours after dawn that this happened. I supposed it's possible he got lost foraging too late last night and roosted in a tree. I'm just hoping he isn't looking for love in all the wrong places! I know they've reproduced this way for thousands of years, but I really don't want a roo hanging around-even one as lovely as this guy-he's pretty stunning looking.

 

[sbhkma]

Well, the roo is back. He was up in my driveway this afternoon about 3:00 so nope.. he's not "lost". He's 1/4 mile from home and I'm pretty sure he's looking for my hens. I've read far too often on here about roosters hurting hens during breeding and I do not want to subject my hens to that. If I did I'd have my own rooster. I chased him back home by fussing at him and throwing rocks his way (believe me, if I wanted to hit him, I could, I'm a dead-on shot with a rock) For now I'll keep chasing him home and hope he gets the idea that this is not a good place to hang out.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They rarely hurt hens, especially only the occasional mating. They can lose feathers if there aren't enough hens and they overmate.
Maybe your neighbor needs more hens.
If normal mating damaged hens, would they have survived hundreds of thousands of years?

 

[sbhkma]

How much of what a chicken does after generations of human interference in breeding/cross breeding/inbreeding is "normal"? I have read often about a rooster hurting a hen and I know a few folks that have roosters and hens and there is usually one or two that are the roos favorites. They get bald on their backs & tail area. A couple of times the hens have had their backs clawed. I would think in the wild that would endanger the hens' health. Yes I do realize "that's just chickens for ya" but like I said....If I wanted to subject my hens to a roo, I'd have a roo.
I'm just going to keep shooing him back home and hope he decides it's better with his own hens

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would probably shoo him back as well.

As for generations of human interference, natural mating hasn't changed one iota.