Mystery Chicken
A tiny chicken just moved in from who knows where
This tiny mystery chicken has made itself at home here
It’s not unusual to have the occasional wild bird show up here at the Acre. There’s a small flock of ducks that’s been stopping by for a few days in the fall for years now (we think it’s the family of a pair of English Call ducks who went native in the early 00’s).
There’s also a bevy of California quail that will stop over and camp for a couple days in the oak valley before scuttling on over to the nature preserve.
Plus the exotic bird farm over the hill has a breakout every so often. We’ve had visits from wild turkeys, peafowl, pheasants, and Guinea fowl (one of whom decided to stay).
That said, in all our decades here, until the day before yesterday we never had a chicken show up and move in. Coyotes and bobcats generally make sure domestic poultry doesn’t last long unprotected.
Nonetheless, now we’ve got this odd little hen who showed up from who-knows-where. She was just standing outside the chicken coop one morning waiting to be let in.
I don’t know what breed she is (Seabright maybe?), but she is tiny. About 1/3rd the size of the Buffs and Wyandottes. She’s quiet and very shy too.
Ah well, who knows. Maybe she’s a lucky mystery chicken. We can always use a little luck.
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[…] short time ago I posted about a tiny chicken that showed up out of nowhere and made itself at home with the rest of the […]
I found your site when I was researching a mystery chicken we had show up a couple days ago. She’s very small compared to our hens but she’s feisty. She has an oddly shaped neck though and reminds me of a cartoon. She’s black with white specks,but I noticed she had some turquoise mixed in when I held her the other morning,(I saved her from a flogging of much larger birds). I don’t think any of our neighbors have birds that are similar,and truly have no idea where she came from. Just thought it was crazy we shared the same experience. Take care.
Welcome to the wandering chicken club, Brandy!
Our mystery chicken, who we named “Kevin”, turned out to be a Seabright. THe girl at the feed store who does 4H competitions said it’s a decorative breed known for being flighty if they’re not kept in an enclosure, so I’m guessing she’s a fugitive. I figured she would take off within a week, but she’s still here. A heck of a layer too. Super small eggs, but she’s a top producer. My only complaint is she’s also super broody so if you don’t collect the eggs right away she’ll battle you for them. Still, a free chicken is a free chicken, right?