Chickens - the Pet that gives back.

Selecting a Bird

If you are new to chickens you probably should not start with chicks.  While you can purchase day old and week old chicks from from a livestock feed store or Hatchery, the mortality rate is high, especially if you are new to birds and not set up correctly with a brooder.   I wont go into detail on how to raise chicks, if that is something you want to get into then you can reseach that on your own.  Instead I would suggest getting hens already at, or close to, laying age, this being five months old.

Not all breeds of hens lay as many eggs as others, some breeds are better noted for their unusual looks, or growing fast to become somebodies dinner.  Some breeds are friendlier than others.  For a pet chicken you want a friendly breed, These can be Silkies, Polish Sussex, Australorps, or any other breed noted for being personable, Leghorns for example are not noted for being friendly.

There are many places to find a pet chicken, most areas have auctions for such animals at the livestock auction mart, you can phone there and ask or ask at a livestock feed store.  Some feed stores also have connections on birds for sale, check bulletin boards, or you can ask around for a farmer, look in the agricultural newspaper, or seach the internet.

Look for a healthy bird, one that is active and alert, ideally you want at least two or three birds, keep in mind most breeds of hens will lay one egg a day in the summer, only some breeds lay in the winter.  If the birds are just going to be pets an older bird is fine, chickens can live over 10 years, but their egg production is reduced after four or five years.  Hens make better pets on a whole than do roosters. 

Feeding and Housing

Most people keep their hens in a Chicken Coup, allowing them out in the day, and shutting them up at night.  If you are in the city you might want a fenced run to keep them out of your neighbours yard.  In the coup they will need laying boxes, one box may be shared by four hens.  They will also need a place to "roost"  or sleep - this is an off the floor pole, or branch, they can sit on at night. 

They will need water, of course, and food, a laying ration is best, but you can also provide chicken scratch as a treat - it will help them bond with you too.  They love dandelions, bananas, tomatoes, and all sorts of fruit and vegetables, but should not be given meat, white bread, or onions.  If you use chemicals on your lawn, do not let your birds onto the grass.  In fact since they eat bugs, use of chemicals in your yard can kill your birds. 

They will need grit, small pebbles to help digest their food, this and the feed can be purchased at a livestock feed store.  Oyster shell will help when they are laying. 

Eggs

You do not need a rooster to get eggs.  Hens will lay regularly once they reach laying age, but most stop laying durring the winter or when they are molting.  You should check for eggs in the morning, and later in the day.  Most eggs are laided earlier in the day.  Put eggs in your frigde and enjoy them daily.  Free range eggs have been found to be healthier for the consumer.

Laws

Before you consider getting chickens as pets, you should check your local by-laws, particularly if you are in a city or town.  Some places are becoming better about allowing such birds as pets, but others are still unwilling to accept them as pets.

These are Sikie Hens, photo from Wikimedia