Are you chickens pets? Tell me why or why not!

[Peaches Lee]

Totally pets! Eggs are a bonus. They are incredibly theraputic (sp?) and a great stress reducer. Everyday I laugh about something that someone has done. I have sold some though however, one even made Grand Champion at a show--I was so proud--raised him from a chick I did! But I did cry when I sold two beautiful, fluffy Silkie chicks, but they went to a great home.

Mamawolf544--I used to live not too far from Alvarado!

 

[SarahJaneB]

Though I love watching them and their little chicken antics as do my family and especially my nephews I'm not letting myself get super close to them though it's super hard not to, they're so much fun but I had in my head when we got them that they would be for eggs and meat. But of course We can't eat one of the ones the boys have named Pecky but of course she doesn't have much to worry about anyways. She gives us eggs

 

[Little Peep]

Ours were supposed to be pet's But they are wild! and want nothing to do with us but when we feed them they are a bit more tame! But the Rest are a Lot more tame!

 

[roostersandhens]

i love chickens! one day i decided to get 6 chicks! NOT for the eggs! just for pets! i love my chickens!!!! my favorite breed is an americana! i would get chickens iff they lay or not!!!! i love chickens!

 

[roostersandhens]

i love chickens! i am a vegetarian but my chickens are not my pets they are my family actually! i love my chickens! i treat my hens and roosters like dogs! they are my best freinds! and the people on this thread who got chickens for pets NOT for the eggs or meat are awsome!!!! all my pets are family even my little feathered freind chickens!!!!
here is a picture of my puffy cheeked americana eddy! i love him soooo much he is sooo sweet!!!!!

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

I've raised over 100 chickens and 70 ducks in my lifetime... all pets. I rescued many birds and rehomed them when they were strong again. Sometimes I had a bird for a couple years before I could let it go. There were a select few I kept as permanent residents, ones I just couldn't part with. I also have a breeder flock of Seramas I keep solely for that purpose along with a pet goose and turkey. I have never eaten any of my birds, nor do I eat any kind of poultry meat. I'll eat infertile eggs but DH won't. We are THAT dedicated to our birds lol.

 

[trameghan]

I originally got my chickens for eggs and meat. I ordered 3 roosters figuring i would pick the prettiest/nicest to keep and eat the others. My plan was to let a broody hen hatch chicks and use the ones I didn't want to keep as food. Boy was I wrong about that! Culling the 2 extra roos was really traumatic(even though they were mean little buggers). My remaning rooster and a few of my hens are totally pets! I even have a lap chicken who loves snuggles. I can't immagine not letting them live out their lives even after they stop producing. I have a feeling I'm going to become crazy chicken lady! lol

 

[olefarmersdaughter]

Egg production, pets, and eventually food. I am limited to the amount of chickens I can have in the city, so it will do me no good to keep feeding 'hay burners'. Sounds harsh but that's reality.

 

[Chic_girl]

Don't worry, Farmer's Daughter- there are many people with the same opinion! My opinion for my chickens is that they are pets first, egg layers second, and show birds last.

I originally got my first flock to show for 4-H, but I never expected them to win me over as pets! All of mine have names- the signal for being pets... Most of mine are hand- and lap- tame to varying degrees, and they all love treats, so I spoil them and baby them if they are injured or ill.
But, that's just me.

My family appreciates the chickens for their eggs, even though we don't have breeds known for laying. The duck flock keeps us supplied- even our 4-year-old Runner mixes still lay plenty!

As far as showing- mine are still hatchery birds, but the small hatchery that I got them from still breeds for some quality. I was still surprised when the judges gave me awards- especially naming my Polish hens Champion Bantam pair..... They aren't that well bred!

 

[spotsplus]

Our 16 are pets. I raised most from eggs. It's awfully hard to sell chicks I've hatched out myself (that's why we are up to 16!). Once they have a name it's hard to bring them to a chicken swap or sale. We give away most of our eggs as I'm the only one in the family that really likes eggs!

Tammie