[smallholder in the city]

Hi all,
I'm a longtime lurker on TAS and I need some help and advice.
We live in SE London in a mid terrace. We have 2 blackrock chickens who have been doing very well for the past year.

Last night around midnight someone broke into our garden (mid terrace so they had to come through our neighbours garden and over the fence) and left a large cockerel in our chicken run !

he was very distressed as were my chickens when they got up this morning. I'm going to be ringing the RSPCA and the Police as well as our local charitable farm, to see if they can re home him.

In the meantime does anyone have any advice ? or is anyone near SE9 and able to re home a cockerel? If we had the room and he wasn't quite so loud in the morning I'd consider keeping him but it's really not possible.

[Hermit]

Coq Au Van!

[smallholder in the city]

Yes it looks like that might be the only option. 

[Greenerlife]

Extraordinary story!  Usually it's the other way round.  Are you sure it's not someone playing a prank on you?  It's a good one!  Still building my chicken coop so I can't help - sorry.

[northfifeduckling]

I know you can get desperate to move them on but that's not nice!!

[humphreymctush]

shout "Home boy" and follow him to the culprets. Or get him stuffed by a taxidermist, put him on the mantel piece and tell the story every time you have a dinner party.

[smallholder in the city]

No unfortunately not a prank.
The city farm nearby apparently gets them left in boxes outside but hasn't ever had anyone break in.
It's the callous disregard not just for their bird but for mine too that has upset me. I've not been able to get close to him yet to check him over for any nasty infestations, although he does look quite healthy, I just hope he hasn't passed anything onto my ladies.

I am trying to figure out how I might find the owner just to give them a piece of my mind , it's got to be someone nearby for them to know we have chickens.

[northfifeduckling]

It's probably one of those people who let them breed and then can't kill the surplus boys...How about going to the paper with the story?
Hopefully he's not going to pass anything on to your girls other than his fertility. They might enjoy the adventure for a few days...?
Best way to catch them is with a large fishing net

[Roxy]

I have chocked on my coffee reading your post.  I am not surprised though.  People are dumping all sorts of livestock, including horses etc. in fields because they no longer want them.  This is obviously someone who cannot rehome their cockerel and he is causing a noise.  Its very unfair to dump him on anyone, but especially you, as you are not out in the country.

I have a farm, and it seems to be cats that people leave here.  I have plenty of my own, and they must think I need some more.  At least the lady with 8 hens to rehome, did leave a polite note on the gate asking me to contact her, and did not just leave them in a box.

[smallholder in the city]

Think I will go to the local paper and we have a community magazine I am a bit worried that it is a breeder and they might do it again so will also be investing in human proof as well as fox proof security measures.

[Roxy]

There is also the issue if your chicken run can be broken into to put the cockerel in, it can also work the other way, and them take your hens, so sensible to take precautions.  We are fortunate here out in the country with poultry being stolen, that it is rare, but in some areas, it happens a lot.

[woodlandproductsfife]

INCREDABLE

[CameronS]

I went through a spate of nine days, each day, i found a hen(or cockerel) shut inside one of my feed bins, the 5 males were dealt with and the ladies enjoyed a few days of luxury, and were health treated, and then eventually re homed, thank fully I'm out in the country so extra  males shouting wasn't a problem,

 a bit worrying that people were willing to travel 1mile off a main road to break in, and dump hens.

hope you find a home soon

[humphreymctush]

When I read this post I thought it was just the kind of this that happens in the city. However t :&>wo strange domestic ducks have appeared on my croft in the Orkney Islands. They cant fly so either they were also dumped by someone or they have walked a long way to get here.

[northfifeduckling]

lucky you, humphrey  Give them a loving new home, they produce lovely eggs. If they look "strange" they might be Indian Runners. Send us a picture??