how to care for a rooster in winter?

Question

a friend had a rooster wander into her yard and stay for days. she started feeding him, and now he won't leave.
she likes him, but the cold and snow can't be good for him. she can't take him indoors and she's worried that he'll freeze outside. she doesn't think she can build a decent cage on short notice in this weather.

if you have raised chickens (the fewer the better), any advice you have would be helpful, until we can get him to an animal sanctuary. thank you!

Answer 1

Have no fear, a chicken is built for winter weather as most ornithological specimens are. Snow and cold will not kill it. If it is hanging around, and you wish to keep feeding it, it will find its own protection under the shrubs, porch, etc. etc. Locking it up in a pen outside and not allowing it to move around and generate its own body heat may harm it worse. It has a thick coat of feathers to keep it warm (down feathers and primaries) It's not going to freeze. If it wants to get out of the weather, it will find a place that suits him to keep warm. The only thing the cold weather may do is slow down egg production by the hens. Roosters will not be bothered. The man upstairs didn't give them this coat of feathers for nothing, he did it for a reason!

$Billy Ray$

Answer 2

A cardboard box wrapped with a plasic garbage bag (for waterproofing) will work. Just cut an opening big enough for him to enter. Some straw bedding would be nice too.

Answer 3

Find a second hand dog kennel on web.
Put in straw bedding.