My youngest rooster is outsmarting me, and it's driving me crazy. I currently have two roosters, eight hens, three ducklings, and a drake. My hens have slowed laying eggs the past couple of days, just as my little rooster has achieved his manhood. He is crowing almost full blast, and jumping on the girls constantly. I believe between Little Roo, and my Silkie Roo, Gismo, the girls are tired and need a break. I need to separate them. So, at the end of the day, I stood by the run door, and as they all came home to roost, I kept the two Roo's out. The girls and Duck, went into the coop and settled down, and the ducklings waddled into the nursery coop. I closed up the nursery, and left the two boys outside. Gismo headed right over to the smallest coop, which I alway have food and water in, and it is always open, unless I have a bird in it. Little Roo however just kept pacing around the outer perimeter of the run on the big coops. I went inside, figuring he would find his way in with Gismo. After the sun was down, I went out to check on him. He was nowhere. I looked in on Gismo, and he was alone. I closed that coop door and continued around the yard looking. Damn I thought, a fox already, that quick , really? Feeling a bit sad and guilty, as I should have picked him up and put him in the coop to begin with, I went over to tell the girls I was sorry. When I opened the door wouldn't ya know it, up on the roost with the girls, was Little Roo. Ok I said, you get a pass for tonight. How he got back in the run baffled me. I closed the coop sliding door to the run, and went back into the house. When morning came, I woke up to that wonderful cockadoodledoodling, and my mind went right back to wondering how he got in. Before I even had coffee, I went out and inspected the entire run fence. No bird other than a chick, has ever gotten out before. Well in this case, I mean in. lol. I pulled the string on the slider door halfway up, and then stopped. I opened the big door on the coop, and then finished opening the slider. One by one, Duck first, and then the chickens scrambled out. Each time Little Roo went by the slider door, I lowered it, keeping him in the coop. After all the others were outside in the run, I let Little Roo out the people door, into the yard, and then let Gismo out also. The only part of the run fence, that I could Guess is where he got in, was where the fence connects to the coop. That is where I go in and out of the run when I need to. There was an opening about two inches wide, he must have squeezed through. I bent the fence tighter and thought ok he can't get through that. Then I put out water and food for the two of them. They were free to do as they pleased, and I went in for breakfast. While I was eating, I watched through the window to see what he was doing. He was pacing around the edge of the run. Back and forth, back and forth. I felt bad, but the girls really needed a break. At one point he was on the fence, right at the weakest point in the netting, covering the run. The exact spot where the hawk always tries to lift the net, but only to meet with failure each time. I knocked on the glass and said get down. He jumped to the ground and began his trek, pacing back and forth again. After a while, he began to wander the yard, scratching and pecking up the grass and bugs. Every little while he would go near the fence looking around. He was behind the kiddie pool pond, near the fence next to his mother and aunt. It was as if they were talking. Making a plan. hahaha. This happened a few times that I noticed throughout the day. But he stayed out of the run, and with Gismo all day. When it was dark, I went out to close up the coops and check on everyone. First the baby ducks, then on the way around to the big door, I checked on Gismo. He was alone again. I closed the run slider and opened the big door, So who do I find up on the roost again? You guessed it. It was Little Roo. I was stunned. I could not believe he got in again. I looked at the fence and it was still tight. This is one determined bird I thought to myself. He must have squeezed through the tiny opening like a rat or something. There is no other way in, and even that small opening, should have been Impossible. Well, I let him slide again and said goodnight and closed everything up. I'll have to fix it permanently in the morning, I thought to myself. Morning came and again I let them out one by one, keeping Little Roo inside. When everyone else was in the run, I let him out the door. I went to the shed and grabbed a handful of nails and hooks to makeshift a secure but easy entry into the run for me. Gismo and Little Roo watched as I was working. I laughed and said not this time pal. I'm keeping you out. You are sleeping in the other coop for a while. I was just finishing up, and my wife called me for breakfast. While eating, she asked what I was doing to the coop. Before I could answer, she said, oh and I forgot to tell you, you forgot the little rooster for two nights now. I, had to put him in the coup both nights. She told me that this was not the only thing I was slipping at, and maybe I should make a doctor appointment. I looked her right in the eye and said,,,,,, ok. Needless to say, Little Roo and Gismo, are Roosting together tonight. Oh, and by the way, I'm not going to the doctor. Happy Sunday!