Shirley & Etta, my first chickens

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Pamela Into said:
About 3 weeks ago a hen showed up in my yard, & has stayed, much to my delight. She was rather scruffy looking, but has quickly gotten much better looking.
I live in town & have ½ an acre, mostly private, & have gardened organically for the last 12 years. She has stayed in my yard & roams freely.
She has been gifting me with a large blue egg, every day! I feel so fortunate that she has chosen to live with me.
I have been reading as much as I can about how to care for her & what type of chicken she is, & I believe she's an Easter Egg Layer or an Ameraucana, if they're not the same breed
An amazing thing about her showing up in my yard, is that a friend & I were just talking about chickens that morning, & how I wished that I had a chicken or two to help with my bug problems in the garden. When I came home later that day, she was there!
I texted my friend to tell her about it, & wrote that ' surely she'll stay because I have a big garden, & plenty of bugs', but spell check changed 'surely' to 'Shirley', so that's her name.
I love her.
I got a small coop, & organic feed & treats & spend a lot of time with her as she roams around my garden, & I built a chicken tractor.
I discovered that she likes to stare at her reflection in a basement window, so I decided that she must be lonely.
Two days ago I got her a little pullet Buff Orpington friend. Her name is Etta. She's in the chicken tractor that I made until tomorrow, when I'll let her start roaming around with Shirley.
They are getting along well. Shirley spends a lot of time scratching around near Etta, & this morning she was nestled up close to the wire, just hanging with Etta.
I've never raised chickens, so I am reading as much as I can to be sure to give them the best possible life.
A friend who has had her chickens for a long time recommended that I join your group.
Thank you for being here, & letting me be part a of it.
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Welcome to BYC!!
 
ILoveDaffy said:
Shirley is definitely an Easter Egger. She is absolutely fabulous too! You may want to consider getting one or two more chicks, because some chickens tend to be happier in a small group. I have found that a group of three or four is a great size, for me and my chickens. In the past, now I take care of somewhere near 40. My personal flock however, holds 11. Chicken math is real!
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Thank you!
I only want two. I have limited energy, & space, & already care for 5 cats. It's a lot of love to share.
I'm retired, & also make art.
I'm happy with my little family. 🥰
 

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