Have you ever thought about having a pet chicken in your backyard? It’s not as uncommon as you might think, and with the right knowledge and care, raising chickens can be a rewarding experience. In this guide, we’ll provide you with advice on how to get started raising chickens as pets in your backyard, including tips on choosing the right breed and providing adequate housing. Read on to learn more!
Benefits of Raising Chickens
There are many benefits to raising chickens in your backyard. Chickens provide fresh eggs, meat, and fertilizer, and can help control pests. They also offer companionship and can be entertaining to watch. Chickens are relatively easy to care for and require little space, making them a great option for urban and suburban dwellers.
What You Need to Know Before Getting a Pet Chicken
Before you even think about getting chickens, you need to make sure that you’re prepared to care for them. That means having a safe and secure place for them to live, access to food and water, and knowing how to handle them. Here are a few things you need to know before getting chickens:
1. Chickens need a safe place to live. This means a coop or chicken tractor that is strong enough to keep predators out and has good ventilation. The coop should also have perches for the chickens to sleep on and nesting boxes for them to lay their eggs.
2. Chickens need access to food and water at all times. This means having a feeder and waterer in their coop or chicken tractor and refilling these regularly. It’s also important to give them access to fresh greens and scratch (a mix of grains) so they can stay healthy.
3. Chickens can be handled, but you need to be careful. They don’t like being picked up, but you can hold them gently around the body. Be sure not to grab them by the legs or wings, as this can hurt them. When handling chicks, be extra careful as they are fragile creatures.
Setting Up Your Coop and Run
Assuming you have already built your chicken coop, here are a few tips on setting it up and outfitting your backyard chicken run.
First, find a level spot in your yard for the coop and run. The coop should be placed so that it gets good ventilation and sunlight. The chicken runs should be attached to the coop and enclosed on all sides.
Next, line the floor of the coop with straw or wood shavings. This will help absorb any moisture and make cleaning easier. Place a nesting box inside the coop for the chickens to lay their eggs in. Fill the nesting box with straw or wood shavings as well.
Now it’s time to add some furniture to the coop! A roosting bar is a must – this is where chickens like to sleep at night. You can also add a feeding station and some perches for them to sit on during the day.
Last but not least, don’t forget to add some water and food to the coop. Fresh water should be available at all times, and you can either buy commercial chicken feed or make your own from scratch using whole grains, seeds, and insects.
Feeding Your Pet Chicken
Chickens are omnivorous creatures and will enjoy a varied diet. A good quality chicken feed will provide all the nutrients your chicken needs, but you can also supplement their diet with some household scraps. Chickens love leftover cooked pasta, rice, vegetables, fruit, and even meat. Just be sure whatever you’re feeding them is chopped up into small pieces so they don’t choke.
As well as providing your chickens with a healthy diet, you also need to make sure they have access to fresh water at all times. A chicken’s water needs will vary depending on the temperature and their level of activity, but a good rule of thumb is 1-2 liters per day per chicken. You can either give them a bowl of water or use an automatic waterer which will keep their water clean and fresh.
Caring for Your Pet Chicken: Health, Hygiene, and Exercise Tips
As a pet chicken owner, it’s important to be aware of the health and hygiene needs of your chickens, as well as how to ensure they get enough exercise. Here are some tips to help you keep your pet chickens healthy and happy:
- Health: Keep an eye out for signs of illness in your chickens and consult a vet if you have any concerns. Regular check-ups and vaccinations will help to keep your chickens healthy.
- Hygiene: Chickens can be susceptible to diseases, so it’s important to keep their living area clean and free from dirt and debris. Regularly cleaning out the chicken coop and providing fresh bedding will help to reduce the risk of disease.
- Exercise: Chickens need space to move around and stretch their legs, so make sure they have access to a large run or garden area. Providing toys and perches will also help to keep them entertained and active.
Additional Tips on How to Care for Pet Chickens
Assuming you have followed all of the tips in the previous section, here are a few additional tips to keep your chickens healthy and happy:
- Keep their living quarters clean and free of any potential hazards. This means cleaning out their coop on a regular basis and making sure there are no sharp objects or other things that could hurt them.
- Give them plenty of space to roam and explore. Chickens love to scratch and peck at the ground, so letting them have access to a large backyard is ideal.
- Provide them with plenty of fresh water and food. A chicken’s diet should consist of grains, vegetables, and some protein. You can either purchase commercial chicken feed or make your own.
- Make sure they have access to shade during hot days and shelter from the cold and rain. Chickens are fairly resilient creatures, but extreme weather conditions can still be harmful to them.
- Handle them with care. Chickens may not seem delicate, but they can easily get injured if not handled properly. Always pick them up gently and never hold them by their wings.
Alternatives to Traditional Backyard Chickens
There are many alternatives to traditional backyard chickens, including quail, ducks, and geese. Each of these poultry options has its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before making a final decision.
Quail are small, quiet birds that are easy to care for and don’t require a lot of space. They also lay a good number of eggs and their meat is considered a delicacy in some cultures. However, quail can be difficult to find and they are not as widely available as other poultry options.
Ducks are larger than chickens but still relatively easy to care for. They are good egg layers and their meat is also quite tasty. One downside to ducks is that they can be messy, so you’ll need to have a plan in place for dealing with their waste products.
Geese are the largest poultry option on this list, but they’re also the most versatile. Geese can be used for both eggs and meat, and their feathers can be used for insulation or other purposes. Geese can be challenging to keep though, as they require more space than other poultry options and can be aggressive if not properly socialized.
Questions Related to Pet Chickens
Are chickens good house pets?
Chickens can be good pets but should not be housed inside your home. “It’s never a good idea to have pet chickens living inside a house,” said Dr. Carolyn Hurwitz, a poultry specialist at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. “Bringing a chicken into your house is effectively turning the home into a barnyard with all the associated contamination risks.”
How long can a pet chicken live?
Chicken lifespans vary widely, with most hens generally living between 3 and 7 years. However, with ideal care, they may live even longer. If a chicken is kept safe from predators (including dogs) and doesn’t have genetic issues, it can certainly live 10 to 12 years old.
Do chickens recognize their owners?
Surprisingly, yes – chickens really do seem to recognize their owners. In fact, research has shown that chickens are capable of recognizing up to 100 human faces, so it won’t take them long to learn who their owner is.
Do pet chickens attract rats?
Do Chickens attract rats? Rats are not attracted to chickens. However, they are attracted to chicken feed and love stealing a freshly laid egg. Rats are also attracted to nice, warm, cozy places to live, especially if there is a reliable food source nearby.
Are pet chickens smart?
Yes, chickens are smart and smarter than you might think! In recent years, researchers have made some important strides in realizing the cognitive capabilities of chickens, like their ability to recall and learn from past events, dream, empathize with others, and even do the math!
Can you train a chicken as a pet?
It’s easy and fun to train chickens and, in many cases, faster than training a dog. All you need is a hungry chicken and chicken feed, such as pellet or scratch, or special food treats.
Will a pet chicken fly away?
Thankfully, most domesticated breeds of chicken (i.e. the ones most popularly kept as urban backyard chickens) are not capable of flying high, or far. They might give it a good flap, but they certainly won’t soar in the sky like your average magpie or kookaburra!
Can humans get sick from pet chickens?
Although keeping backyard poultry can be fun and educational, owners should be aware that poultry can sometimes carry harmful germs that make people sick. These germs can cause a variety of illnesses in people, ranging from minor skin infections to serious illnesses that could cause death.
Conclusion
Raising pet chickens in your backyard can be an incredibly rewarding experience and is a great way to provide yourself with fresh eggs, meat, fertilizer, and companionship. With the right knowledge and preparation, you can ensure that your chickens are well-cared for and happy in their new home. For those looking to get started on the path toward raising chickens in their backyard, we hope this guide has provided some valuable insight into what it takes to properly care for them.
See Also:
- Ancona Chicken Breed History and Characteristics
- Andalusian Chicken Breed Profile
- The Appenzeller Spitzhauben Chicken Breed Profile
- Araucana Chicken Breed Profile
- Leiper Gamefowl History and Fighting Style