And so it goes living in the country…
a traveling chicken with what I suspect to be some wanderlust found her way to our backyard. Given the high fence around this particular part of our property, she must have made quite an effort to get there. Scott thinks it’s because she was lured by the sunflower seeds I have out for the native birds.
Is a chicken’s sense of smell that strong?
We became acquainted with one another and despite her attempts to scamper away from my attempts to gather her in my arms, we soon enough spent the evening walking around the neighborhood looking for her home. She settled easily and nestled in my arms as I sang “Everything lil thing gonna be all right.” Each time I stopped singing, she raised her head and made soft little chicken sounds until I rekindled my Reggae musical genius that clearly can only be appreciated by the keen auditory senses of a chicken.
For my neighbors in J-ville. If you saw a woman walking down the road with a chicken in her arms, singing, well, now you know. It was I. And Rita. The name suggestion came from my bestie who I promptly called to tell all about my outdoor-country-living-connecting-with-the-wild animal planet experience.
And it was right about that time -walking with this sweet girl in my arms, her head nestled in the crook of my arm -I fell in love with this sweet chicken.
So while I hope we find Rita’s home (she is now hanging with a neighbor who has a proper coop), I sure do wish that Rita were some funky anomaly, a mysterious appearance, a homeless chicken looking for a family. There are plans in the works to build Rita her very own special chicken castle, a chicken citadel (Scott doesn’t know about that part yet) complete with hay or scratch or whatever chickens need to feel happy.
But because it’s the right thing to do – not necessarily the thing I want to do, I’m reaching out to my fellow peeps in J-ville. Do you recognize this beauty?

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Life is life — whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man’s own advantage.
~Sri Aurobindo
I believe in animal rights, and high among them is the right to the gentle stroke of a human hand. ~Robert Brault
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I am not surprised that Rita found you and your home. She is one smart Chicken!
Thank you. **heart**
Tomorrow we’re picking her up from the neighbor’s house as we have not found her family. Looks like we have a new family member!
I’m betting that Mr. P is gonna make a beautiful abode for his girls. I see he is no longer afraid to take on a project.
Nice to catch up…
Love you guys!
Buck & Lisa
Well we do love hearing from you two, Buck and Lisa. Thanks for reading!
And yes, Mr. P. is the Project Manager extraordinaire – especially if it involves a spreadsheet at any point in the process.
love you guys too!
Reminds me of Hawaii where they are protected as the state bird. Remember many nights on Kauai listening to their calls of love. But then we have the same sounds in PA BUT they’re not protected as an endangered species. Tom
That is a very cool factoid (the chicken is the state bird of Hawaii). Thanks, Tom!
KENDA, THAT IS SO CUTE!!!!
LEAVE IT TO YOU TO TAKE IN A CHICKEN!!
I HOPE THAT IN MY NEXT LIFE IF I’M AN ANIMAL, I
COME ACROSS SOMEONE LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOU!
XXXOOO
Your comment put the biggest smile on my face, Mom. I love you. xoxoxo
I THINK SWEET RITA IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, KENDA!
I WOULD HAVE SCOTT BUILD HER A PROPER HOME WITH A NEST OF STRAW AND A ROOST FOR ELEVATION. AFTER ALL SHE FOUND YOU. DON’T BE TOO QUICK TO TURN HER OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IF INDEED SHE IS SOMEONE’S PET CHICKEN, THEY WILL COME LOOKING FOR HER. UNTIL THEN . . . FINDERS KEEPERS.
MRS. C
Isn’t she so beautiful?
Advice well received, Mrs. C. So far, I’ve been to more neighbors but to no avail.
She’s a beauty queen alright but maybe I’m partial!
Ha!
You know precious when you see it. 🙂
Never reveal those Cali roots!
Lest we be shunned!
Go Rita! Way to homestead.
Would it really be considered a crime if she came to me first? 😉
Not in Oregon.
That is SO true. I think I even read about that law while studying for my driver’s test.
While getting gas for driving and waiting for the dude to pump it; that is another good time to read and ponder the power of Oregon.
Right on. Sometimes I still jump out of the car at the gas station. Then I have to pretend I meant to do that (like throw away an invisible piece of trash) as not to appear like I just arrived from CA.