Wild rooster adopted us:
So here’s my story and why I joined the forum: I am a Dr. in Hawaii, Largely retired upon becoming quadriplegic 2 1/2 years ago. Now, I spend what time I can on our lawn Facing Kailua Beach.I don’t know if any of you know this, but Hawaii has developed quite the feral chicken population on all islands, almost to the point of becoming an issue. There’s a good size one at Kalama Beach Park a quarter-mile down the beach from me. Not quite a year ago, a young rooster started showing up in our yard. I would talk to it, And it would seem to listen. It became a very frequent thing for it to show up during the daytime, probably encouraged by the fact that we’d feed it crumbs and popcorn etc.. Eventually, he Started to sidle up to me and make gentle clucking noises, and I got the feeling it wanted to hop up on my knees. Eventually he did, and eventually it started to enjoy being petted, groomed, and otherwise caressed (I have partial use of one hand, but no sensation at all, alas). Since then, he has really come into himself, gaining weight, plumage, and long spurs, Probably helped by our supplementing his diet. Likely, he’s pretty capable among other roosters. He always goes home at night but is often back to wake us up in the morning (something we could do without BTW). It seems surprising that he doesn’t spend more time with his flock ( and hens!) Down the beach.Our relationship seems to have changed a bit lately, possibly progressing to a relationship of male good buddy. In that, sometimes when he jumps up, he wants to peck me and seems to enjoy when I fight him back by grabbing his beak or flicking it. He still likes to beCaressed most of the time, though.
So that’s my story. More later I guess, and with pictures.
So here’s my story and why I joined the forum: I am a Dr. in Hawaii, Largely retired upon becoming quadriplegic 2 1/2 years ago. Now, I spend what time I can on our lawn Facing Kailua Beach.I don’t know if any of you know this, but Hawaii has developed quite the feral chicken population on all islands, almost to the point of becoming an issue. There’s a good size one at Kalama Beach Park a quarter-mile down the beach from me. Not quite a year ago, a young rooster started showing up in our yard. I would talk to it, And it would seem to listen. It became a very frequent thing for it to show up during the daytime, probably encouraged by the fact that we’d feed it crumbs and popcorn etc.. Eventually, he Started to sidle up to me and make gentle clucking noises, and I got the feeling it wanted to hop up on my knees. Eventually he did, and eventually it started to enjoy being petted, groomed, and otherwise caressed (I have partial use of one hand, but no sensation at all, alas). Since then, he has really come into himself, gaining weight, plumage, and long spurs, Probably helped by our supplementing his diet. Likely, he’s pretty capable among other roosters. He always goes home at night but is often back to wake us up in the morning (something we could do without BTW). It seems surprising that he doesn’t spend more time with his flock ( and hens!) Down the beach.Our relationship seems to have changed a bit lately, possibly progressing to a relationship of male good buddy. In that, sometimes when he jumps up, he wants to peck me and seems to enjoy when I fight him back by grabbing his beak or flicking it. He still likes to beCaressed most of the time, though.
So that’s my story. More later I guess, and with pictures.
