A friend making medical house visits came across an elderly couple who had been feeding a young rooster mince. He was sleeping in the forest across the road and coming into their garden during the day.
We suspect he had been dumped as he began to show he was a rooster, though we don’t know his earlier history. While Sam spoke to the couple and offered him a home, they caught him so we could come and rescue him.
Eddie came into our care in July 2025. His early vet check found a young bird who needed parasite treatment and had a mild keel-bone deformity. He was also eating well, gaining weight and already enjoying head scratches.
Taking his responsibilities seriously
Outside, Eddie watches the sky, follows us around and notices anything unusual. He courts the hens and raises the alarm when he sees something worrying. He takes the job of being a rooster seriously.
His interpretation of the world can also be very funny. He has courted a hen pictured on a feed bag. He treats the car as an invitation to jump in, explore the dark corners and join an outing.
The lap is still his favourite place
With us, Eddie can settle completely. He climbs onto a lap or belly, leans against an arm, accepts scratches and drifts off. Sometimes Sam and Eddie nap together for an hour.
That is the boy we want people to meet. Expressive, watchful, affectionate, occasionally ridiculous—and very much an individual.
His story is one reason we ask people to consider what happens to the boys before hatching chicks or buying eggs. Every rooster deserves to have his needs taken seriously.