What a difference a few days can make. One minute Ronaldo is lovelorn and loathed down the Avenues. There was also a brush with a dog where he was nearly toast.

Next minute Ronaldo's top rooster, well only rooster, with a harem of six lovely hens in a little farming community called Horohoro, 80km away …as the chook flies.

He has literally landed on his rooster feet and scratchers.

'The rooster is good,” says vet tech Karen Hunt, who is Ronaldo's adoptive Mum. 'He has his own hen house and six girlfriends. So endless opportunities.” For love, she means.

'He's in a good space, very happy.”

A month or so ago, Ronaldo went from being just another chook to minor celeb or villain of the peace, around 14th Ave and Grace Rd in Tauranga City.

The Avenues

It was his crowing as early as 4.42am that rankled neighbours. Unrefined farmyard behaviour down the dignified Avenues got people tired and grumpy. They wanted Ronaldo caught and relocated, or worse. They wanted to reclaim their night-time.

But Ronaldo was a free agent. He didn't belong to anyone so the noise nuisance bylaws didn't apply. He could crow his coxcomb off, annoy as he pleased.

The mongrel cockerel did get some love...well, more begrudging respect.

Dog attack

'He is a beautiful boy,” said a neighbour called Helen. Ronaldo inveigled his way into her feelings. 'Ronaldo would sit on my wall and give me an evil eye.” She admired him for his sass and attitude – qualities that endeared the rogue rooster to some people.

Like eight-year-old Harper. She was 'side-eyed” by the arrogant chook on occasions and woken every day at 5am by his crowing. 'Super annoying,” she said. But at the same time, she wished him well. 'I just hope he finds a nice farm to live on.”

And he did, but only after he had his butt feathers chewed by a dog. He was rescued by caring neighbours and taken to the Free as a Bird Rescue Centre at Mamaku.

That's when Karen Hunt saw Ronaldo up on Facebook and she thought: ‘Why not?'.

New home, girlfriends

'There's a shortage of pullet chickens so why not make our own.” From death's door Ronaldo has been re-homed and charged with growing the brood. An enviable rooster responsibility.

Ronaldo hasn't lost his attitude. 'Probably wouldn't be able to catch him now,” says Karen. 'All those girlfriends would probably attack me.”

This morning at 6.30am Ronaldo launched his song. And no-one minded one iota. 'Everyone happy,” says Karen.

Ronaldo's adoptive mum, Karen Hunt.