A vision of my future popped into my head: Every morning I would wake up and unsuspectingly step out my front door only to see yet another bassinet or box, orphaned hen nestled among the blankets inside, and a note saying something like 'please care for this hen, her name is...'.
This place is turning into quite the bird sanctuary these days. My Muscovy ducks are almost all grown up and are on the lookout for places to nest. Roving bands of California quail are starting to wonder around the yard again. Last year we had over 40 running wild in the yard and if I can ever find one of their nest, I will stick a bunch of eggs under one of my hens and have quail of my very own.
As for this new hen, I've named her Patty after the name written on the box. Apparently, they found her wondering around their yard a couple of days ago and decided to find a flock for her. It is thought that she and another hen (who was run over by a car) must have escaped from their home near Thetis lake. I think that Patty was a pet chicken and not a farm chicken. She seems more comfortable around humans than chickens. She doesn't mind when there is one or two hens near her but freaks out when several chickens come up to her to say hello. I had her in the chicken hospital (a cage that I put inside the hen house) so that she could become accustomed to the other chickens without being picked on. But as soon as I introduced her to the flock, Lucky, my rooster started chasing her with amorous intentions. Patty decided to leave the chicken pen and is now running wild around the yard.
(photo of Lucky with some of his hens)
I think I'll just leave her to do what she likes. She is obviously uncomfortable around boy chickens. She has access to the Duck's food and water and there are plenty of good places for a chicken to sleep around here. When she becomes more use to us, I'll try introduce her to the flock again. In the mean time, she can eat bugs and fertilize the lawn.
Cute story and lovely pictures! Thanks for sharing them, Raven!
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