The bird was reported stolen on Saturday morning, and after attending the victim’s home later in the day, Senior Constable Luke Hunter was surprised when he spotted the rooster “strolling” down Sturt Street in Koroit.

“They don’t put that in the police recruitment ads,” Senior Constable Hunter said.

“It’s something different, chasing a rooster down the road.”

The officer said the clucking rooster put up a chase and flew away from him. Eventually, he managed to corral the bird into a confined space with the help of two passers-by and notified the owner.

Together, the owner and the officer then managed, with some difficulty, to get the rooster back home.

Senior Constable Hunter thanked the men who stopped to assist him, and said he would not take roosters as lightly in future.

The event follows the invasion of a Warrnambool caravan park by up to 300 chickens earlier this month.