I'm new and you won't believe how I got here......

Hi.

I'm Maria. This is Lulu

Lulu has a very unique story from what I can tell. We live in Saint Paul MN. Not the suburbs or anything but right in the city proper. My daughter and I had been to a garage sale and I was digging in my car for something when this chicken jumped in my car. I'm not joking, Just hopped on in. We saw no areas with coops or any other chickens out and about.

Well no one has come forward to claim our Lulu. (yes we looked around and made a post in a few facebook groups for the area).

So now here we are in St. Paul with a Chicken. And NO idea what we are doing. I am a frog person normally, but my 4 and 2.5 year old are in love with this bird. And of course she has some of the funniest little quirks. She follows us like a puppy, she cuddles on our laps, and well she makes commentary on my husbands personal hygiene by grooming him while preening.

As you might have guess she has grown on us and we haven't fought it.

We are considering keeping her. But we know NOTHING about chickens other than using our basic premise of animal husbandry (food, water, shelter, love).


I am looking at getting a small coop with run attached. But before I get that far. I am hoping if anyone can tell me how on earth I tell if Lulu should be Lulu *she* or Lou *he*. Roosters are banned in St. Paul. IF anyone might be able to identify what type of chicken she is (still working on the she theory).

Then I also hear that 1 chicken is not a happy chicken. Could I get away with just 2 chickens to make them happy or do I need 3? If I need 1 or 2 additional chickens how do I go about getting a single or pair of chickens? Most places online 1) they ship them (I HATE that idea) and 2) you have to order like 25 (okay I do draw the line I could at most have 3). I haven't found any resources telling me where I might buy a young chicken or two about Lulu's age (someone in my office things shes around 8 weeks, she is losing baby feathers still and has gotten a lot fluffier around her butt still).


I guess help... I've been thrown in the middle a maze with no indication of which way to walk.

Hi Maria,

Wow, that is a very interesting way to get a chicken! It's so nice that you're thinking of keeping her, they do grow on ya pretty quickly!

The Learning Center is a great place to start- it has a ton of great info about keeping chickens. I saw that you posted in What Breed or Gender is This?-- folks there should be able to help you out.

As for the number of chickens in a flock, I would recommend getting three birds if at all possible. Ugh, I know ordering from hatcheries can be difficult if you had a small flock. But, I did a quick Craigslist search for you area, and there are a good number of chickens for sale, including some younger birds. Here's the link. I agree she's around 8 weeks, maybe a week or so younger just cause of the fluff that's left.

If you ever have any questions, always feel free to ask. I'm sure anyone would be happy to help.

Thanks for joining us and good luck!

Hi Maria

Glad you could join the flock! That is a fantastic story on how you came to be a chicken keeper! Lulu looks great and I'm sure you will enjoy her very much. Buff has left you some great advice above and links to check out so I will wish you the very best of luck for the future and enjoy your time here on BYC

Hi and Welcome to BYC

That is an awesome story. She must have just known you were the right people.

All the best for your chicken journey

Beautiful buff orpington! Funny story! xx

That's a pretty unique story. I guess she picked you! Sad that no one seems to be looking for such a personable chicken gone missing. Well, at least she's got a family now. Welcome to BYC!

Howdy from Kansas, Maria, and . Great to have you aboard! e

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

Lulu is so social, she must have had a caring owner - odd that they didn't notice she's gone or post signs to find her. Maybe if you had 2 or so as house pets, you could get around restrictions. Check out the " people with house chickens thread."

Well from what I am gathering from my other post.

She probably is actually a HE. And of course we are prohibited from owning roosters in the City of Saint Paul, so it is very possible they dumped the chicken.

I have posted a few things but no luck.

I'll keep trying though. If nothing else Lulu is a happy bird for now.