She foraged near us and she was nice to watch, she seems to not mind people so I assumed she was a pet. Me and my friend went on inside after a while and the chicken followed, hanging just outside my front door on my porch.
We put out some water and my friend gave her some breadcrumbs, she was really cute how excited she'd get over a bit of food, doing these chicken-squeals.
I didn't mind her hanging out on the porch thinking after a while she'd get bored and go home. I like how she was nice and safe while she was here, our porch is fenced in and gated. As the day wore on she seemed to like us, she could hear our voices inside and every-time me or my friend came outside she'd follow behind us up and down the path and forage not far from us.
She became bonded quite quickly, she was silent when we met her but was soon clucking as if having a conversation with us.
As the hours wore on and it grew dark, the chicken became agitated and anxious, I was nervous for it's safety too. So I picked her up in a blanket and discovered she adored cuddles, my friend helped me place her in a box to get her past my dog Astro.
We decided to put her in the garage, the garage has a lot of space, empty shelves and is a completely closed in shelter. The garage was an idea to serve temporary night shelter for the chicken to keep her safe and to feel secure.
J took me to chat to our nearest neighbours as we wanted the chicken to return to her owner. We learned the truth, the neighbour had seen her walking the streets a few times over the span of ten weeks so by his assumption the chicken had been wild for at least that long, she was well known by residents of the neighbourhood as many saw her on their property and fed her a little but no one owned her. There were no chickens owned nearby, no one knew where she got loose.
I was told all this yet the next day I got up early and rang around the local grain suppliers, the council, a few local farms... but I either got no help at all or not idea of her owner.
J checked the local noticeboard of lost animals but there was no mention of a chicken, I didn't mind giving this sweet chicken a temporary safehouse. As time passed I discovered more of her character and her lovely personality. So, I feel responsible for her, responsible for her safety, responsible for finding her the right home.
I really care for her. She has such loyalty, she has made me her "flock leader" so she obeys me, follows me and many amused visitors have seen her special "I'm coming" clucks she reserves as response to me calling to her or encouraging her to my side.
I can pet her, I accompany her on foraging and she plays with me. I feed her chicken pellets, leftover salad and breadcrusts as a treat. She is mad for breadcrusts!
All this time I've been sad I cannot keep her as my pet but as a good person, I feel it is the right thing to properly care for an animal regardless if it is your pet or not.
I wanted to rehome her at a nearby farm but she has been refused. A few lovely chicken owners have offered her a place in their flock but she has trust issues and has just began to improve in health.
Since she has stayed with us the little comb on her head has perked up, her chest has become fatter and her feather quality has improved. She looks much less sad, mangy and skinny now.
My friend who meet the chicken that first day saw her again two days later and was impressed at her improvement. He loved watching her be a bit more outgoing in personality too.
We named the chicken, Miss B.B. and according to a helpful chicken identifier she seems to be a Dutch Bantam.
As it stands at the moment, I am longing to keep her as my own pet. But I have to wait on permission on that. I don't know if I ought to keep her though, I am all for building a coop, buying some chicken sisters. But is it fair? I have a dog, I have a young daughter...
So it is all under consideration.
