A wily rooster that made himself at home at a Sunshine Coast kindergarten has been relocated with the help of a wildlife volunteer.
Rodney Rooster turned up at the Mudjimba Community Kindy around September last year and never left, although he was free to do so.
Rodney’s presence was initially a novelty and the kids enjoyed the company of their farmyard friend, who liked to pick up the crumbs and scraps left after morning tea.
Kindy co-director Jane Lockyer said the curious young rooster even ventured inside on occasions.
“I was reading a book about a rooster one day and in walked Rodney. It was hilarious,” she said.
But like any visitor who stays too long, Rodney wore out his welcome.
“To have a pet at the kindy you’ve got to have an enclosure, there’s risk assessment and all these sorts of things, and we didn’t want to take him on,” Jane said.
“Because he’s a rooster, and they get spurs, it can get a bit dangerous.
“He was getting a bit too friendly with the children. It was getting a bit unhygienic.”
Rodney had formed a special bond with kindy cleaner Deb Burgin, who lined up a place for him at the Dhil’um-Bar wildlife sanctuary at Maleny.
Deb enlisted the help of WILVOS volunteer Keith Porteous to help with the capture last week but Rodney flew into a tree.
When Keith returned the next afternoon, Rodney hid behind a pole and in the vegie patch but was finally caught with Keith’s second shot of a net gun.
Nearby neighbours said Rodney had never disturbed them but were pleased he would get to enjoy farm life.
“He didn’t worry us. And roosters are too tough to cook,” they said.
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