Are You a Practical Chicken Keeper... or a Total Chicken Spoiler? 🧁

[Chicken_Obsesser]

14 lol. Practical Poultry Pro.

 

[gtaus]

Given the choices, I scored a perfect 10! Honestly, I think it would have been lower because sometimes the first option was more than what I do with my chickens. But I am perfectly fine with a low score. I love having a backyard flock of laying hens because I don't have to spend too much time or energy on them, and yet, they live a good life and give me eggs and make compost for my gardens.

I am perfectly fine with others scoring much higher on the quiz scale. Good for them if that's what they want. I don't judge.

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I would like to add just a bit of information to the question of kitchen scraps being illegal in the UK...

It's illegal here in the UK to feed chickens kitchen scraps. Dietary supplements (Treats) are tinned fish, nuts, meat, cheese and some fruit.

Weird..why is it illegal? Let's be honest, the treats you mentioned are basically kitchen scraps!

Not Shad, but my understanding from reading multiple discussions about this: it’s an uninformed over-reaction by UK government to mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy.)

And also foot and mouth, I think? The 2001 outbreak was thought to be caused by infected or contaminated meat in pig swill.

Idk, I know a retired pig farmer who reckons the swill used to smell pretty appetising when they boiled it up!

Obviously no one with half a brain is going to admit to it in writing on a public forum but I'd be interested to know how many people ignore the law and feed some amount/kinds of scraps anyway. Most people I know do...

There is a well-known work around in the feeding kitchen scraps to the chicken's issue. That is to process the food outside before you bring it into the house. Seems like a good way to respect the law while at the same time totally circumventing it. I think one of the best things about my backyard flock is that almost all our kitchen scraps and leftovers get tossed to the chickens as treats. They love it.

Anyways, here is a nice summary by Copilot AI on this issue...

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In the UK, it's illegal to feed chickens kitchen scraps—even from your own home—because of strict **animal by-product regulations** designed to prevent the spread of serious livestock diseases like **Foot and Mouth Disease** and **African Swine Fever**.

The law applies to *all* kitchen waste, regardless of whether it contains meat, dairy, or even if it comes from a vegan household. The concern is **cross-contamination**: once food enters a kitchen, it’s considered potentially exposed to animal products or pathogens, even if it’s just vegetable peelings.

This rule was introduced after the devastating 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak, which was likely caused by pigs being fed improperly treated catering waste. That outbreak led to the culling of over 10 million animals and massive economic losses.

So, while it might feel natural to toss your chickens a bit of leftover salad, UK law treats all kitchen waste as a biosecurity risk. If you want to give your hens treats, the workaround is to **bring unprocessed produce directly to the coop without it passing through your kitchen**—like hanging a whole cabbage in the run straight from the garden.

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I hope that answers some questions. Makes sense that the law was put into place in the UK after an outbreak that led to over 10 million animals being culled. If that happened here in the US, there might be some laws like that for us as well. It would not take much. How many people live in towns here in the US where chickens are not allowed at all, or restricted to maybe only 6 or less hens - with no roosters because of their noise when crowing.

 

[Growley Monster]

1. How do you greet your chickens in the morning?
A) With a quick “Good morning,” as I check their feed and water.
B) I sing them a morning song—complete with choreography.
C) Depends on the day—sometimes a wave, sometimes a heartfelt speech.

HEEEEEEEERE, chick-chick-chick-chicKENNN!!!!! I let them fly up and perch on my head and shoulders. So probably closest to "B".



2. What’s your go-to treat for your flock?
A) Kitchen scraps—nothing goes to waste.
B) Mealworm muffins I made from scratch (with a parsley garnish).
C) A healthy mix of garden veggies and occasional store-bought goodies.

All of the roosters and two of the hens are free ranging and their treat is laying pellets.I only put out what kitchen scraps that I know will get completely eaten, and not be food for rats. No mealworms or anything like that. Probably "C" is closest.



3. What’s your coop cleaning routine like?
A) Weekly sweep with a deep clean once a month.
B) I deep clean, then light sage to ‘cleanse the energy.’
C) Regular tidy-ups, plus a seasonal coop refresh.

Like pulling teeth. I usually procrastinate but sometimes I wait and procrastinate later. "C"?



4. Have you ever dressed up your chickens?
A) No way. That’s just feathers asking for trouble.
B) Yes—Halloween, birthdays, photo shoots. You name it.
C) Maybe once... okay twice. The photos were adorable!

So far I have dressed three of my roosters, but not the way that you mean. Clothes and accessories? Brown Leghorns don't go in for that sissy stuff. "A".



5. What kind of décor does your coop have?
A) Nesting boxes, roosts, ventilation—and that’s all it needs.
B) Curtains, flower boxes, chicken-safe fairy lights. It’s Pinterest-worthy.
C) A few personal touches like signs and comfy corners.

Wood. I think it is called "rustic", meaning not sanded or painted. I did paint the floor to inhibit rot, and I am gonna cover with linoleum to help with cleaning. I will paint the outside, again, to help preserve the wood. No other fancy pants stuff. Oh, nesting boxes with outside access via little plastic kayak hatches. Nice casement windows and real doors. "A" I guess.



6. How often do you post about your chickens online?
A) Rarely. I might share a photo if something funny happens.
B) Daily updates, themed photo shoots, and custom hashtags.
C) A few times a week, especially when they lay a pretty egg or do something cute.

Too busy. Surprised I am doing it now. "A-"



7. What’s your chicken first-aid kit like?
A) Just the basics: antiseptic, gauze, gloves.
B) A full-on chicken ER complete with herbal remedies, heat lamps, and foot soaks.
C) A well-stocked box that grows with experience.

Plenty of fresh air, and lots of exercise dodging hawks, eagles, and owls. "A-".



8. Do your chickens have names?
A) Only the ones that stand out. The rest are just “the flock.”
B) Of course, and each has a backstory and voice.
C) Most of them, especially the friendlier ones.

Sort of. In their early childhood all the roos were quite early at escaping and so I call them all "Steve McQueen" except for Brewster. Wife calls the hens "Bernadette" but the biggest one, a real heavyweight, is named "Henrietta". Oh and our little Black Cochin, the only non-Leghorn, is "Little FuzzButt" When I am mad at them for coming up on the porch I yell "Steve, Gitcherass down from here RIGHT NOW, you little $h1t! Little FuzzButt gets spoiled a little because the Leghorns pick on her. "B-" I guess.



9. How do you handle a sick hen?
A) Quarantine, monitor, and treat based on symptoms.
B) Quarantine, daily spa sessions, and soft music for comfort.
C) Quarantine, care, and a few extra treats to cheer her up.

That which does not kill them, makes them stronger. I'm not even on the chart. "A", at best



10. What’s your dream chicken upgrade?
A) A larger run or automatic waterer.
B) A heated coop with Wi-Fi cameras and a velvet roosting perch.
C) Maybe a walk-in coop with some cozy features.

Jersey Giant capons, auto waterer, auto door. Coop is walk-in, 8x8x8 wood frame building like a small house with a gable roof. I would say, "C".


I do sort of make pets of them and yeah, I hand feed. I actually pick them up one at a time and hand feed them in the morning. Otherwise they would be so wild I would never be able to catch them. Brown Leghorns are super wild and flighty and essentially I bribe them with layer pellets to tolerate me picking them up and holding them. The hens are terrible, they bump my hand and try to get me to pick them up so they can get hand fed. The roosters want to perch on my hand or arm, standing on their feet, and I hold them cradled in my arm and don't let them stand. They often fly up and land on my head and shoulders to be closer to the treats and they ambush me all the time. When I hold and feed one, often two more will dive bomb me. I call them if they go across the highway that runs across our property cause there are gators and water moccasins in the bayou over there, and they come running home. No car can possibly hit them, they are too fleet of foot and swift of wing. I also call them if they stray off our land. I don't want them crapping on the neighbors' driveway or vehicles, or wandering into their house. When they hear me coming down the stairs, they all gather round and wait for me to come and give them a handful of feed. I have got them nearly trained to not peck Little FuzzButt but she still likes to shelter between my feet and follow me around like I am the king rooster. I would re-home her but wife won't hear of it. So, I guess all in all we do spoil them, but we spoil them with tough love, and we eat early crowing or bullying roosters even if they aren't really ready to harvest.

B C C A A A A B A C so 17 points.