Stevie, the chicken who joined my dog pack

Stevie was among the first chickens I ever owned, a Buff Orpington I fostered from a nearby animal shelter in 2021 and named after one of my favourite musicians, Stevie Nicks. I live on a huge plot of land in Malibu that I treat like an animal sanctuary, and from the moment she arrived Stevie stood out with a confident, outgoing personality.

She took to the dogs immediately and wanted to be just like them, running with them, curling up in their bed and copying their every movement. I would pick her up and she would fall asleep on my lap; she was affectionate in a way I hadn’t expected, which made me appreciate how social and intelligent chickens can be.

Stevie also had a knack for mischief, laying eggs wherever she pleased — on the bookshelf or in a dog kennel — so despite having a coop I would find surprises around the house. When she first joined us my six dogs were cautious and I couldn’t leave them alone together, but after about a week they accepted her and she became part of the pack.

stevie, chicken, buff orpington, dog pack, malibu, animal sanctuary, animal shelter, fostered, stevie nicks, chicken coop