Keeping Chickens As Pets



Gone are the days when chickens were only kept for their eggs and meat. Nowadays, people take a liking for chickens because of their domestic appeal, and many would even claim that they get a sense of kinship with their poultry, that same kinship people get from common pets such as cats and dogs.

But before you entertain the idea of keeping chickens as pets, you have to check the local zoning laws in your area for the simple fact that some counties prohibit the housing of "farm animals". Once you're able to verify this, the one thing left to do is to pick the particular breed of the chickens you want to have as your constant feathery companions.

You will need to have extensive knowledge of which breeds are most suitable to your preference. A bit of visual appeal can also go a long way into sparking and maintaining interest. A chicken can have a variety of colors and styles to choose from - red, gold, brown, spotted, dappled, high-tailed, bushy tailed, feather-legged, the list goes on. Be very nit-picky, for it's your sole responsibility to ensure that your chickens are not only well fed, but also nurtured and yes, loved. Why keep a pet in the first place if you're not going to shower it with attention?

If there are kids always hanging around the chicken coop, it might be advisable to choose the smaller breed, or in poultry talk - bantam chickens. That way, kids won't be afraid of them, and will be drawn to them as much as they do to small pets like rabbits and cats. It goes without saying that you need to pick one that is young, more preferably a one-day old chick. This gives the bird ample time to get domesticated and get used to being handled by people. The birds won't "fly the coop" and be predisposed to hurt anyone every time people get close to them. In that parlance, hens make better pets than cockerels since they are more docile in nature. The fact that hens are capable of providing you a steady supply of eggs without the requirement of fertilization only fuels that premise. Sexing the chicken is not as easy as it looks, so you are better off asking the help of a “chick sexer” if you're not well trained to do it on your own.

Pet chickens naturally have to be free-range. They love to have enough space to walk around with, so make sure there's enough of it. Perches also need to be set up since it is hardwired into a chicken's instincts to roost and sleep on an elevated surface. Also make it a point to scatter some dirt into the ground since they love to dig and scratch with their feet.

Feeding your chickens occasionally with special treats (worms, fish, table leftovers, etc.) in the palm of your hand can also help tame them as they grow. In this manner, they associate you as a source of food and will always cluck in anticipation every time they see you.





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My Articles

Keeping Chicken – Producing High Quality Chicken Eggs
Keeping Chicken – Building Chicken Nest Boxes
Keeping Chickens – What They Need To Survive And Thrive
Keeping Chickens For Meat
Keeping Chickens As Pets
Keeping Chicken – Chicken Feeding Worries
Keeping Chicken – Keeping Chicken In The City
Keeping Chickens: What You Need To Know
Keeping Chicken – Chicken Fencing That Saves You Money
Keeping Chicken As Pet
Keeping Chickens Warm In Winter
Keeping Chicken – Chicken Parasites, Causes And Treatments
Keeping Chicken – Protecting Chicken From Other Animals
Keeping Chickens Healthy
Keeping Chicken – The Do-It-Yourself Chicken House
Keeping Chicken – Bumble Foot
Keeping Chicken – Preventing Chicken From Eating Their Eggs
Keeping Chickens – Taking Care Of The Chicks
Keeping Chicken – Chicken Sour Crop, Prevention And Treatment
Keeping Chicken – Building A Backyard Chicken Coop
Keeping Chicken – Getting Started: The Pecking Order
Keeping Chicken – Tips On Raising Chicken
Building A Chicken Coop For Keeping Chickens
Keeping Chickens For Egg Production





My Articles


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Benefits Of Keeping Chickens If you have decided to raise chickens or are currently keeping some..


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Keeping Chicken – Chicken Feeding Worries For people who are getting started with raising chickens one of the main..



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