Advice for adopting a homeless cockerell!

[catswine1980]

Hi folks,

For the last few months, I have been feeding a homeless cockerell who lives around my little rural village in Scotland. I have told the neighbours that I'd like to adopt him and they are fine with it.

He is very wary of me, although he comes every day for his chicken feed, which I put out in the morning. My dog has scared him off a few times, and he usually stays away for a while when that happens, but he always comes back eventually. My dog is harmless and I'm sure I can train him to accept a cockerell eventually.

My partner loves gardening and so I'm having a hard time talking him into getting other chickens, but I'm a bit stumped on how to make the bird feel safe enough to stick around and get used to the dog? I think I could talk my partner into us having a few birds at most, but from what I gather, getting o e single hen is likely to cause upset for her? Everything I read says that you need at least 4 hens for one cockerell. Is that true? And if that is the case, is there another way that I can tempt him to come and feel more comfortable? For example, if I got another cockerell, would they likely be friends or fight? Apologies for sounding like such a novice - I am! I'm just trying to offer him a safe home before some fox comes along, and trapping him against his will doesn't feel quite right.

Any advice appreciated! How might he feel more welcome? Is getting one other hen or cockerell ever workable as a mate or is that just trouble? Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Stephen in Midlothian, Scotland.

Ps I'm not sure what kind of chicken he is, perhaps a Sussex...

 

[CoopBoots]

Would love to see a picture if you have one! He's more likely to be intimidated by another rooster than encouraged, but a hen or hens might help. I'd hesitate to invest in hens before you are certain you can catch and house him, however.

Thing that might make him feel safe are probably things like routine and no surprises. Doggy stays away until they can be introduced in a controlled way, a regular feeder and waterer in the same place are always available, maybe offering treats with a routine call at a particular time of day.

 

[Shadrach]

This is your first problem. While the dog is around the rooster/cockerel is not going to feel safe. No dogs are harmless if you're a chicken. All dogs bite and all dogs have some degree of prey drive. The rooster knows this even if the dog owners don't.

Build him a coop and if he will take food from you then lead him to the coop with the food. He may just move in of his own accord.

Build a coop and get a couple of hens. He should get the idea and maybe move in.
Getting another male to keep him company is not a good idea.

Finally, while you may want him to live with you he may have other preferences.

 

[catswine1980]

Would love to see a picture if you have one! He's more likely to be intimidated by another rooster than encouraged, but a hen or hens might help. I'd hesitate to invest in hens before you are certain you can catch and house him, however.

Thing that might make him feel safe are probably things like routine and no surprises. Doggy stays away until they can be introduced in a controlled way, a regular feeder and waterer in the same place are always available, maybe offering treats with a routine call at a particular time of day.

Thanks, that all makes sense! I will order his own feeder and waterer today. He comes at the same time every morning so that feels good. In theory, do you think that getting one hen might help? (I don't think having more than two birds in total will work in our wee garden.)

 

[catswine1980]

Would love to see a picture if you have one! He's more likely to be intimidated by another rooster than encouraged, but a hen or hens might help. I'd hesitate to invest in hens before you are certain you can catch and house him, however.

Thing that might make him feel safe are probably things like routine and no surprises. Doggy stays away until they can be introduced in a controlled way, a regular feeder and waterer in the same place are always available, maybe offering treats with a routine call at a particular time of day.

Ps here is a photo, you might need to zoom in to see him!

 

[CoopBoots]

Thanks, that all makes sense! I will order his own feeder and waterer today. He comes at the same time every morning so that feels good. In theory, do you think that getting one hen might help? (I don't think having more than two birds in total will work in our wee garden.)

One hen would probably help, but it puts her in the awkward position of being alone should he not move in, as well as being his only partner if he DOES move in. Roosters can easily overdo it with mating if there's only one lady around. I'd be unwilling to try less than two hens myself, and it's hard to say if that would be enough to split his attention appropriately...

 

[catswine1980]

Thanks for the advice, makes sense

 

[Mrs. K]

You know, you might just leave it as is. He is making it. It is a beautiful garden, and more chickens will tear that up. Consider him a lawn ornament. Put out a little feed each day like you are, and just enjoy him.

Otherwise, you are talking a coop, a predator safe run, more birds...all quite expensive for one free rooster - that really is making it on his own.

Mrs K

 

[catswine1980]

You know, you might just leave it as is. He is making it. It is a beautiful garden, and more chickens will tear that up. Consider him a lawn ornament. Put out a little feed each day like you are, and just enjoy him.

Otherwise, you are talking a coop, a predator safe run, more birds...all quite expensive for one free rooster - that really is making it on his own.

Mrs K

Thanks Mrs K. I have been reflecting on doing just that: it's nice to see him wild and free. There are dangers but then i suppose that's nature.