Are bantam breeds better suited for indoor setups?

[FrostRanger]

Finches and parakeets are not as cuddly or suitable as a lap pet as a chicken will be.

Most chickens aren't cuddly. All mine are friendly but none enjoy being picked up and held, instead they show their affection in other ways such as running up to me when they see me and hanging out near me. Mine tolerate being held and petted at best. Some people are lucky enough to have a cuddly chicken but those are the exception and not the rule

None of us are saying this to be mean, we are simply trying to advise you that your plan will very likely lead to grief for both you and your bird based on our knowledge and experience with chickens

 

[OnlySympathy]

With all the angry reactions you’ve given to people giving you the answer to the question you asked I can’t tell if you are a troll or just want to hear what you want but everyone is completely right. I currently have a chicken indoors. She is extremely unhappy right now. It’s been less than 12 hours and she has made it clear that she doesn’t like it. Please don’t be selfish and do what is best for the animal rather than doing what you want

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not against indoor chickens, but honestly very few of these threads ever go about it the correct way and yes, many of the opposing side don't go about it the best way either. These threads are often trolls so I never bother replying.
What is frustrating is as a parrot/parakeet owner myself, is seeing people use other cage birds both to justify and oppose, when really they just take little tidbits and throw them out of context and proportion.

Chickens ARE social creatures.
But so are many parrot species, especially "parakeets" (better referred to as budgies btw )
This is somewhat debated among parrot owners, often the reason people only keep one is because parrots are extremely expensive to maintain, many people don't have the space for multiple of the large birds, they're double the maintenance, they do not bond with each other easily sometimes (no one wants to end up with two birds that hate each other's guts, and you never even achieved your goal of a social friend for the original bird) etc. Many parrot owners will acknowledge their birds would be better off in a flock setting.
I personally hold the somewhat unpopular view budgies shouldn't ever be kept alone, unless by THE most committed/dedicated owners. This is unpopular cause you often lose a lot of bonding potential that many people desire, I prefer to put the animals wants above my own when I can.
By keeping a singular bird you're taking on ALL of that bird's social needs 24/7, for the rest of it's life. Even if you're feeling sick, even if you want to go away, go to a social event, you made the decision to own that social animal alone and you now bare the responsibility.

If you want a indoor chicken try something like a "parakeet".
I dislike this suggestion. I doubt someone looking to own a chicken is going to get any of the things they're looking for in a budgie... They're not "cuddly" birds, MOST birds are not cuddly, and one should not go into bird ownership with that as a requirement. Birds have many unique personalities and some will just not want to interact with you in the ways you want them too. Telling someone who's likely looking for a interactive bird to get one that often requires much time, patience, training and commitment to bond with sort of feels like setting them up for failure.

YOUR health.
Even if you take the necessary precautions such as that a cockatoo owner would take, because yes, you can manage dander to an extent. You're still putting your health at risk and you should not downplay it. Understand what you're deciding and have a good solid plan in place. Personally I would never even DREAM of keeping a dust producing bird in my bedroom, regardless of precautions.

Ultimately again, just because you can, should you? Are you really prepared for the work this would require? The commitment? It's far from something you should do "just because you want to", this is an animal's life and welfare we're talking about, it's an absolute requirement to stop and put your wants and desire aside and seriously think about the animal before you go making ANY kind of decision.

 

[fat brown hen]

There's a huge size difference between a bantam cochin and a serama. Seramas are tiny, and it is common to keep them indoors in housing similar to how you would keep a pet rabbit. The bantam cochins I have seen are almost as big as standard chickens, but maybe it's all fluff.

I say go for it. If there is a feed store nearby, there are likely many other chicken keepers in your area. If things don't work out, it should be easy to rehome the chicken.

 

[fat brown hen]

Regarding solo chickens, it will vary by breed. In my experience, the more skittish hens prefer the safety of a flock. The more confident hens are happy to be alone. Right now, I have one game hen who is living by herself in the tool shed (her choice). I cut a pop hole in the shed door after I accidentally locked her inside multiple times.
I have another hen who went to go live in the turkey pen. She does not like other chickens, at all.

Have you seen some of the tight-feathered breeds? Fewer feathers, less dust. This one is a Ko Shamo. They were bred to be house chickens in Japan. Cute, or hideous? You be the judge

 

[CluckinOnTheYakus]

As someone who has had several disabled or injured house chickens over the years I can PROMISE you, it will get old so very fast. I would like to highlight one of the most unpleasant parts of having a chicken in the house. CECAL POOP.

It matters not that it's a small bantam, all chickens have cecal poops several times a day and they STINK and they are messy. Sure you can put a diaper on the chicken to contain the poop, but you better be prepared for your room to smell like someone just took a hot steamy dump in it multiple times a day. Cecal poops are like the chicken version (in consistency and smell) of a bad case of severe diarrhea in a human. It's juicy, gag inducing, and rank. If your chicken is in a diaper it will stick to their feathers and now you're scrubbing a crusty butt several times a day. They can also get ammonia burns on their rear if not changed frequently. And for what it's worth, if you're hanging out with your chicken and holding it, 99.9% of the time if they're gonna poop on you, it's gonna be a cecal poop, guaranteed. Over all the years I've only had ONE "lap chicken" that wouldnt poop on me. ONE! She would wait until I put her down to poop. The rest of them just let 'er rip right on you.

Most, not all, but the vast majority of people who are posting cute little videos and blogs of their house chickens show you the romanticized version of the experience. Some of them may even be posting a cutesy video for clicks and then the chicken gets shuffled back to the coop. I have kept chickens for about 30 of my 40 years on this earth and I promise you, a house chicken is something you only want to deal with when you're healing an injured bird. It gets old so very fast.

I currently have a disabled chick that has spent 8 weeks in my house, he is small, but I was having to clean his enclosure 3 or 4 times a day due to the smell. He's not inside because I want him to be, but because he has to be. He's a sweet and adorable little fella but you can be halfway across the house and that cecal poop smell comes wafting through and it is so SO bad. I tried putting a diaper on him (because he kept getting poop on himself) and it would shock you just how much they poop for being so small. You have to change it many times a day. And diapers really accentuate that ammonia smell. A caged bird would need bedding changed at least daily. And if you keep the bird in a cage it will always have poopy feet. Inside chickens STINK no matter what anyone says, they stink!!!

I know we all sound like a bunch of negative nancy naysayers but we speak from experience when we collectively say it's not a good idea. And trust me when I say I get where you're coming from, and it feels like everyone is beating down your dream and popping your bubble. I have been there. And sometimes we just have to try it and learn the hard way, I know I sure have many times over the years. But take it from someone currently dealing with an inside chicken it is not even close to what it's cracked up to be. It's a ton of work, stink, dander, and constant cleaning and IT GETS OOOOLLLLLLDDDDD. There are no days off. There are no outings with friends. There are no trips out of town. It is a constant responsibility that chips away at you one cecal poop at a time.

And I didn't even mention their propensity to scatter their food everywhere, eat things they aren't supposed to, go places you don't want them to be, and just in general cause chaos in a home environment.

My best advice is don't do it, but if you do you'd better have a backup plan to either re-home the bird (and I hate to say this but if it's a rooster, good luck) or have an appropriate outdoor space available. Your best bet is to have a small flock that you spend time with every day and can bring one inside to hang out with you when you're feeling like it, and can return them to their own abode where they can live a happy chicken life outside where they love and want to be the most.

 

[EggzactlyRight]

https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/chickens-101/raising-an-indoor-pet-chicken/

This is a heartwarming story and it’s clear Charlie was well loved, but I don't think using this article to justify your desire to have an indoor rooster is doing you any good. It is not something to be taken lightly. We are not talking about a toy nor an accessory, this is a living being.

Chickens aren’t naturally indoor animals, and keeping them inside long-term (unless it’s for recovery or extreme weather) can pose serious health risks, both for the bird and for humans. They produce a lot of waste, can carry bacteria like salmonella, and need space to do chicken things like scratching, dust bathing, and socializing with other chickens. The latter may very well be the most important and everyone who wants a chicken needs to understand that chickens are flock animals. They need community, otherwise they will be lonely and won't thrive.

If you’re nursing a sick or injured bird, that’s different, and temporary indoor care can absolutely be the kindest choice. But making a chicken a permanent house pet because it’s “cute” or “fun”, especially if that's the sole reason for your purchase of it, isn’t really in the bird’s best interest.

Yes, there are cases in which the bird is fine, but that's just what it is - an exception, not the norm. As a human responsible for any animal you may get as a pet, you have to put their needs above your wants. Otherwise it is neglect and abuse.

Speaking of abuse, an anti crow collar is abusive, possibly dangerous, as well as ineffective in many cases. What is the point in getting a rooster if you don't want to let it do what it needs to do? Clearly it is not an animal that's suited for your wants and needs, so please don't get one. Don't get a dog if you don't want it to bark, don't get a cat if you don't want it to meow, don't get a rooster if you don't want it to crow.​

 

[FrostRanger]

As someone who has had several disabled or injured house chickens over the years I can PROMISE you, it will get old so very fast. I would like to highlight one of the most unpleasant parts of having a chicken in the house. CECAL POOP.

It matters not that it's a small bantam, all chickens have cecal poops several times a day and they STINK and they are messy. Sure you can put a diaper on the chicken to contain the poop, but you better be prepared for your room to smell like someone just took a hot steamy dump in it multiple times a day. Cecal poops are like the chicken version (in consistency and smell) of a bad case of severe diarrhea in a human. It's juicy, gag inducing, and rank. If your chicken is in a diaper it will stick to their feathers and now you're scrubbing a crusty butt several times a day. They can also get ammonia burns on their rear if not changed frequently.

Most, not all, but the vast majority of people who are posting cute little videos and blogs of their house chickens show you the romanticized version of the experience. Some of them may even be posting a cutesy video for clicks and then the chicken gets shuffled back to the coop. I have kept chickens for about 30 of my 40 years on this earth and I promise you, a house chicken is something you only want to deal with when you're healing an injured bird. It gets old so very fast.

I currently have a disabled chick that has spent 8 weeks in my house, he is small, but I was having to clean his enclosure 3 or 4 times a day due to the smell. He's not inside because I want him to be, but because he has to be. He's a sweet and adorable little fella but you can be halfway across the house and that cecal poop smell comes wafting through and it is so SO bad. I tried putting a diaper on him (because he kept getting poop on himself) and it would shock you just how much they poop for being so small. You have to change it many times a day. And diapers really accentuate that ammonia smell. Inside chickens STINK no matter what anyone says, they stink!!!

I know we all sound like a bunch of naysayers but we speak from experience when we collectively say it's not a good idea. And trust me when I say I get where you're coming from, and it feels like everyone is beating down your dream and popping your bubble. I have been there. And sometimes we just have to try it and learn the hard way, I know I sure have many times over the years. But take it from someone currently dealing with an inside chicken it is not even close to what it's cracked up to be. It's a ton of work, stink, dander, and constant cleaning and IT GETS OOOOLLLLLLDDDDD. There are no days off. There are no outings with friends. There are no trips out of town. It is a constant responsibility that chips away at you one cecal poop at a time. View attachment 4174920

And I didn't even mention their propensity to scatter their food everywhere, eat things they aren't supposed to, go places you don't want them to be, and just in general cause chaos in a home environment.

My best advice is don't do it, but if you do you'd better have a backup plan to either re-home the bird or have an appropriate outdoor space available. Your best bet is to have a small flock that you spend time with every day and can bring one inside to hang out with you when you're feeling like it, and can return them to their own abode where they can live a happy chicken life outside where they love and want to be the most.

It really does get old fast, I brood indoors when I have chicks but I try and get them out asap. I got lucky with my first batch where the smell was manageable but second time around they stank so bad. Not only do they get dander everywhere but they get bedding everywhere, I'm pretty sure all the pine shavings are a big reason why my last vacuum broke and it took forever to get all of it up. Next time around imma see if I can get one of the girls to raise chicks for me so they're already integrated and I'm not finding pine shavings several months later

 

[CluckinOnTheYakus]

It really does get old fast, I brood indoors when I have chicks but I try and get them out asap. I got lucky with my first batch where the smell was manageable but second time around they stank so bad. Not only do they get dander everywhere but they get bedding everywhere, I'm pretty sure all the pine shavings are a big reason why my last vacuum broke and it took forever to get all of it up. Next time around imma see if I can get one of the girls to raise chicks for me so they're already integrated and I'm not finding pine shavings several months later

Ahhh yes, pine shavings and dander - the gifts that just keep on giving reminds me of the time my son accidentally put one of those pillows with these microscopic foam beads in it in my dryer and it busted. I borrowed a shop vac to vacuum the dryer out and it didn't have the filter on correctly and spit beads EVERYWHERE. I am still finding them to this day. May your vacuum rest in peace, hopefully it did not betray you as the shop vac did me.

I too have brooded the vast majority of my chicks indoors and it's so magical and charming at first. Then when they are finally ready to go outside you feel like a cat let out of a bag!!! You just cannot stress enough how incredibly old it gets, and so fast.

 

[FrostRanger]

Ahhh yes, pine shavings and dander - the gifts that just keep on giving reminds me of the time my son accidentally put one of those pillows with these microscopic foam beads in it in my dryer and it busted. I borrowed a shop vac to vacuum the dryer out and it didn't have the filter on correctly and spit beads EVERYWHERE. I am still finding them to this day. May your vacuum rest in peace, hopefully it did not betray you as the shop vac did me.

I too have brooded the vast majority of my chicks indoors and it's so magical and charming at first. Then when they are finally ready to go outside you feel like a cat let out of a bag!!! You just cannot stress enough how incredibly old it gets, and so fast.

Thankfully my vacuum just quit working one day rather than explode

I also forgot about the molts, when my girls molt it looks like a pillow factory exploded. Thankfully I have always gotten my birds out by 5 weeks so I've never had to deal with a molt inside but I can't imagine trying to clean up after that - especially on carpet, pine shavings are bad enough but feathers, especially from an adult bird will clog a vacuum for real