Chickens as house pets?

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

I am just wondering about keeping chickens as house pets. My sister lives in a town that states she can cannot keep livestock on her property... well I was wondering if she could get around it if she keeps them in a cage inside her house... she really likes silkies and she has a large cage that she kept a parrot in, she no longer has a parrot but still has the cage... would she be able to keep 2 silkies inside of the cage (about 60x40x40inches) or would that be cruel or still against the law? I think she could get around the law as silkies are ornamental and serve no purpose other then enjoying having them.

 

[CMV]

There is a fundamental difference between chickens and parrots/cockatiels/parakeets. One is a ground dweller which derives it's greatest pleasure on the ground scratching, pecking, and playing in the dirt. The others are tree dwellers who can found hopping from branch to branch, flitting around treetops, and who can be amused by intricate bird jungle gyms. Chickens are not meant to be indoors. They wreak havoc with the air quality no matter how clean you keep them- constantly scratching stuff into the air, dander and feathers everywhere, ammonia fumes constantly being generated. The work involved in keeping a chicken indoors is phenomenal. I know. I have had reasons to have chickens inside on occasion, and each time I swear it will be the last. I now flatly refuse to keep them in the house. Period. The mess they generate is too great, and it is not a healthy situation for anyone involved.

Although I know there are people who keep house chickens I would strongly urge you not to do it. It is not in the best interests of the bird being kept in such an unnatural environment.

Good luck.

 

[Mudsow]

I don't know, for me keeping a big parrot in those small cages is way more cruel than keeping a chicken in a nice sized indoor cage. Those parrots want to FLY. Not sit on a perch all day doing nothing. My chickens even though confined, have a sand box, different levels, room to move and stretch, enjoy the game of find the mealworms in the sandbox.... And again, love to come out and be part of the "flock" with the dogs and cats and humans being their "flock".

Plus there's the added bonus of being able to actually take your birds outside with you in the yard. I know most people would not be up for the challange of keeping indoor chickens just because of the mess, however, there are a few of us out there that actually enjoy taking care of our pets. It's not a "chore" it's enjoyable. Ok, maybe not so much like I'd rather pick up poop than see a movie kind of joy, but knowing that you are doing the best for your pet kind of joy.

I clean my indoor coop every day, it takes 5 minutes. And they get extreme happiness by trashing it by the next day.

 

[Nicole01]

Sure you can! Many people do it. They also buy or make chicken diapers, so they can walk around the house. They can go in the cage at night or when it's time to lay.

I personally don't think anything is wrong with it. It's no different then keeping a canary or cockatiel as an indoor pet. Make sure there is enough room to sleep. I would use wire xl dog kennel.

Since I do not free range currently, the kids and I are sprouting our own greens for the chickens. I'm sprouting sunflower and alfalfa seeds for their greens. They have plenty of room in their cool and run not to free range.

 

[Mudsow]

I beg to differ, I have indoor chickens. Yes, they do produce dust, and lots of it. And yes, I do have an air cleaner in the room the chickens are in, however, they are in a 2'x8' handmade cage. They are two bantam chickens, although I did have one lf chicken previously. They have plenty of room to run around, they have a small sandbox for dustbaths, sand isn't quite so dusty, but still lets them have fun. They also love to come out when I'm home and run around and play. They get crickets and mealworms, greens and varied diets.

Even when I take my chickens outside in the summer to wander in my yard with me and help me garden... they stick fairly close, or are following the dogs around. They seem perfectly happy as housepets. They thrive on seeing you when you come home, they are very interactive, MUCH more than a few parakeets imho.

Plus we get little edible eggs.

Again, they are much more work if kept indoors, but some of us don't mind, and neither do the chickens.

I don't think I'd take a full grown free range chicken and then lock them indoors, they would more than likely freak out, but raising them indoors, they get used to their surroundings. Again, pick breeds that do well in confinement and are docile, which I think Silkies would qualify, and enjoy having chickens.

No worries about predators, cold, heat, getting called in by neighbors. They make wonderful housepets.

 

[FrizzlesRule]

Chickens make great house pets. I've had them as house pets for over 20 years. Right now I have a Silkie, two Frizzles Cochins and a Sizzle. All bantams, two roos and three hens. They are clean, lively and great company. I love when Muggsy lays an egg on my bed.

I couldn't imagine life without chickens as house pets. They make less messes than some cats or dogs.

 

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

Its great to hear that many more people than I thought actually have house chickens... its awesome... it seems that everyone involved lets them 'free range' the house, which is cool. I am thrilled to have such a response in favor of keeping them indoors, although I personally would rather they be outside... Just the diapers seem to wrong and cleaning up poop from all over would not be fun...

 

[flspnr]

Quote:
I had a rooster that stayed inside for quarantine for a month. He would lay on my lap and watch tv with me, and then when he had to poop, he would fly over to the computer chair and poop there (I kept newspaper on it). Got him when he was about 14-16 weeks, and he just did it, guess the girl who gave him to me trained him. My Peep on the other hand, had to wear a diaper on her the day she spent inside. She clearly was confused at first and didn't much like it, but she got used to it quickly and was just fine. If made correctly, they're lightweight, and out of the chicken's way. They work very well, too! She spent the day inside because she didn't have any roommates for the day and was dying for attention - we had stuff to do inside, so she came in, got her diaper on and ate some veggies in the kitchen while I cleaned. She loved it!

Every once in a while, I still bring her in for a bit as right now she's the only bantam and still wants some mommy tv time.

 

[goldies99]

im not so sure having just 2 chickens would be that big of a deal.....she could have a small out door pen for them to go out when
she is home with them....as long as they dont crow, you might be safe!!!...you can do anything you want till you get caught!...if
you keep track of them and they didnt roam around who would turn you in??....

 

[firedancer57]

We have a house chicken in the living room for 18+ months now. She's an 8# Barred Rock beauty! I would not normally advocate having one but to make a long story short she was rescued from our son's girlfriend who won her at a local fair, Since we have large parrots we didn't think she would be to hard to handle and love. Well that's exactly what happened we fell in love with a fluffy ball of down and pin feathers. Zee has been a wonderful addition to our flock, so to speak, She fits right in and is spoiled rotten.

She is housed in a large dog create we got at Walmart. We added the perch and use newspaper for the bottom. Her cage is cleaned out every morning when the parrots cages are changed.
We have a Blue and Gold Macaw and if you know parrots Macaws STINK! I keep handy a spray bottle of white vinegar and water and mist around his cage,never directly on him, it kills his smell and I'll assume it stops any odor from Zee. I have never had any complaints about "Bird" smells from anyone. She is diaper trained, she has available a sand/ashe box for dust baths but refuses to use it,she prefers to scratch out the stuff and bathe on the carpet. We take her outside and she gets to hunt bugs, scratch earth and be a chicken. Now that it has started to get colder, I will start sprouts and grass for her and the other birds to enjoy.

It's a lot of hard work to keep her and I do think its worth it, you have to be diligent in your cleaning, but the rewards are great! She has added a lot of comical relief and snuggling into her soft fluffy feathers is treat in its self.