There are wild chickens in my neighborhood. I suppose the breeding got out of hand. Perhaps a need to escape or a sense of adventure caused them to roam. I don't know how they got started or where they may have migrated from.
In the evening, they go high, high, up into the tree tops. Sometimes I can see them with binoculars in a little patch of woods behind my house. Sometimes in the wee hours a cock crows in the distance. No one looks after them and they seem to be healthy and do all right for themselves.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed one of the hens was in my yard. She stayed along the fence line, never coming out into the open areas. I watched her for awhile. A few hours later, I followed in her footsteps. Had she flown over my fence? Did she hop down from a tree branch extending over the fence from the woods? I discovered a very small area where the fence was slightly uprooted from the ground. The hen would have had to flatten herself somewhat to make it under.
As I traveled her path, I noticed the lean-to piece of tin against the fence and looked behind it. Sure enough, she had made a nest and laid a fresh white egg. What a nice surprise! I smiled as I took my gift.
The next day, I got a "fake egg" from the country store and put it in her nest. She returns everyday now and gives me a fresh egg. One day there were two eggs. I made the fence gap a little easier for her.
I have noticed that I have not had one insect or hole in my lettuce leaves coming up in the garden. Perhaps the wild chicks are feeding on the insects before they get to my yard!
The chick and I are both in the sparrow family. She is happy to eat grasshoppers and I am entertained to watch her. She is just doing as nature intended in laying her eggs. I am happy to receive them.
Serendipity.