Chicken Psychology 101: Solo Chickens?

[centrarchid]

Dander is not a major issue except when chickens are in molt. Most people expressing concern about molt likely have closest experience with juveniles in brooder which are molting continously.

Most hens do not crow.

 

[Rysktal]

Good to know about the dander!

...the two separate times I brought hens inside, they most definitely did crow in the wee hours of the morning. Good times.

 

[Mischief]

My idea of house chickens involves a spacius ~ 100 ft^2 linoleum floor with a roost and a box with hay for scratching through and dust bathing. Additionally, feeders located at various locations would have small amounts of coarse particulate eats. Then the bird would get interaction time at least daily and possibly time to explore the house. When I have had a game hen as a "house chicken", she could also get in and out of house via a bedroom window.

Care must be taken to not always assume the worst. It is easy to imagine someone investing on one chicken more than many people invest in a typical cat or dog.

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and experience! I appreciate it! Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I have that much linoleum at a stretch to provide to an inside chicken for such a setup! I had the idea of mostly free-ranging until bedtime, at which point the chicken would go into its covered cage in a quiet room at sundown to sleep.

Sounds like you've put a lot of thought into it.

If you're giving them a great habitat inside and outdoor space and you don't mind the upkeep/daily cleaning, maybe it's for you!

There is worry about the dander chicken make and breathing it in being bad for your lungs. I forget what it's called- there is a word for that illness.

Hens can and will crow at 5am, just FYI

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought it was called something like pigeon lung? Off to google with me! lol

I do know about the noise levels being an issue- in the case of ending up with a rooster, I was considering one of those collars that's supposed to quiet the crow. A lot of people are swearing by them these days, and I've heard it can allegedly almost halve noise in some cases! I also wondered after how noisy something tiny like a serama might be- the bantams we used to have were never terribly noisy.

Dander is not a major issue except when chickens are in molt. Most people expressing concern about molt likely have closest experience with juveniles in brooder which are molting continously.

Most hens do not crow.

I also tend to be a bit of a neat-freak, which I know probably triggers concern over the fact that I'm sort of fawning over the idea of keeping a chicken. Inside. lol

But I find almost any pet is manageable if you constantly do small cleaning! Like with dishes when cooking, constant small cleanup keeps things well enough in order so that it never feels like it's gotten out of hand!

I may also add that I am a dedicated housewife, so I will have plenty of time to fully focus on whatever critters I bring into my home.

 

[Shadrach]

You seem to believe you have the right to keep a chicken in any way that pleases you with little regard for the needs of the chicken, despite being aware of the arguments against keeping a single chicken in an unsuitable and unnatural environment.

If this chicken could speak and you asked it to choose between a life with it’s own kind, the opportunity to breed, freedom to scratch real earth for it’s food, e.t.c, or, live imprisoned with a human who just wants a pet, what do you think it would say?

 

[Mischief]

You seem to believe you have the right to keep a chicken in any way that pleases you with little regard for the needs of the chicken, despite being aware of the arguments against keeping a single chicken in an unsuitable and unnatural environment.

If this chicken could speak and you asked it to choose between a life with it’s own kind, the opportunity to breed, freedom to scratch real earth for it’s food, e.t.c, or, live imprisoned with a human who just wants a pet, what do you think it would say?

What would you say to such a proposition if it was put to you?

Of course, you would have to go into some detail regarding the exact conditions of either option and provide a legally binding contract that guaranteed adequate provision for the chicken in the event you change your mind or drop dead.

I do think I've made it pretty clear that if it becomes irrefutably apparent that it is, indeed, inhumane to keep a chicken in such a way that I won't do it. There seem to be arguments and evidences for both sides available, and I'm weighing all of them as such. Solo chickens are rarer, but those I've had experience with seemed happy, and certainly healthy when the owner was doing proper research.

I'm sure a chicken would say, yes I want to run around free like I was meant to be. While we're at it stop clipping my wings so I can't escape into the rest of the neighborhood, let me crow at the top of my lungs regardless of if it annoys the neighbors, and let me finish off my day with nice big meal of styrofoam packing peanuts.

I wouldn't equate any animal with an adult human on levels of self-government. Animals are like children, and even when not growing up in perfect environments, parents who truly love their children, who see their needs and create the environment and opportunities they can for their children are usually good parents.

Just because you didn't have a perfect childhood, it didn't mean it wasn't a good childhood- and certainly I do hope most are a far cry from inhumane.

Using the word imprisoned is funny to me, because in the end, all domesticated animals are imprisoned in the beginnings of their breed history. I did already mention that "the idea of house chickens often bring to mind really sad ideas of chickens kept in cages for copious amounts of time, but that's not how chickens biologically are built to function, and I completely understand this."

I've received what feels like more of a vote of tentative confidence from a couple of people, now. I'm on the fence for the time being, still, then.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have never kept a house chicken, so perhaps, I should not post, disregard if you wish.

However, I have seen the difference in house brooder raised chicks, and chicks outside at day 2 with a broody hen. The outside chicks are stronger, healthier and more active. They get more sunshine, fresh air, and live on real dirt, scratching and pecking and they have much more space. They have better feathers. They are stronger, flying up on top of platforms, climbing up on sticks and branches, cover more territory than the house, brooder bound chicks. The space and outdoor environment is crucial to their having the best life.

They seem so much more active, that when I am raising chicks, I have changed my set up, so that they are getting outside and in the coop by week 3 of life, and I may shorten even that.

People often, with the best of intentions to keep the tiny chicks safe, keep them way to close and confined.

And diapers on a bird disgust me. I cannot think hold feces close to the vent and feathers could be good for their skin. I do not think occasional outside visits is enough to compensate with the vast majority of the time in the house.

So I vote no to chickens in the house, however, it is my house, and I don't have chickens in it. I really do not care if you do or not. I am not apt visit you or in anyway have to deal with this decision.

I am not saying that they will not live in a house with people, they will, and may do well. I just don't think it is good for them, based on my limited experience.

Mrs K

 

[Mischief]

I have never kept a house chicken, so perhaps, I should not post, disregard if you wish.

However, I have seen the difference in house brooder raised chicks, and chicks outside at day 2 with a broody hen. The outside chicks are stronger, healthier and more active. They get more sunshine, fresh air, and live on real dirt, scratching and pecking and they have much more space. They have better feathers. They are stronger, flying up on top of platforms, climbing up on sticks and branches, cover more territory than the house, brooder bound chicks. The space and outdoor environment is crucial to their having the best life.

They seem so much more active, that when I am raising chicks, I have changed my set up, so that they are getting outside and in the coop by week 3 of life, and I may shorten even that.

People often, with the best of intentions to keep the tiny chicks safe, keep them way to close and confined.

And diapers on a bird disgust me. I cannot think hold feces close to the vent and feathers could be good for their skin. I do not think occasional outside visits is enough to compensate with the vast majority of the time in the house.

So I vote no to chickens in the house, however, it is my house, and I don't have chickens in it. I really do not care if you do or not. I am not apt visit you or in anyway have to deal with this decision.

I am not saying that they will not live in a house with people, they will, and may do well. I just don't think it is good for them, based on my limited experience.

Mrs K

Thank you very much for your input! And I absolutely agree with you, as I've read countless accounts of chicks doing better when allowed outside. I believe the exercise and sunlight are vital during their development cycles for optimum health later in life. Vitamins obtainable only from sunlight I've gleaned are important for feathers and bones, and general vitality I assume. As such my designs for raising a house chicken involve a catflap soft enough for the chicken to come and go during the day.

I plan on having a daytime run for the chicken, and I believe in everyday outdoor exercise for several hours at a minimum- even for chicks, though under closer supervision. Covered pen/run is a must, we have too many hawks here, and I only want a very small chicken.

A good chicken diaper doesn't hold feces up against the vent/skin/feathers- rather, it is a little pouch that droppings can fall into so that they're held away from the body, and should be changed often when the chicken roams in the house.

The space issue is a concern of mine, however I've been told bantams need only 2sqft per bird in a run/coop- that seems ridiculously tiny to me. I at least have more to offer than that, fortunately...

In your experience, is hopping into trees and climbing and flying a bit very very important to chickens? I've known of people raising theirs in mostly flat runs, save for the coop itself. I have no trees or shrubs in my backyard, so even in the event I was planning on normal outside chickens, does this disqualify my yard?

I was certainly thinking of having something akin to a few cat trees/apartment around for a house chicken to play on, along with other crow-toys and things to mess with.

 

[Shadrach]

I wouldn't equate any animal with an adult human on levels of self-government. Animals are like children, and even when not growing up in perfect environments, parents who truly love their children, who see their needs and create the environment and opportunities they can for their children are usually good parents.

Ah, I see the problem now.
I don't think animals are anything like children. It's human arrogance that has led us to believe that we (humans) know better than the other creatures on this planet.
I find this a bit strange given the weight of evidence that suggests we aren't doing a very good job given our self assessment of being the most intelligent species here.
Just a thought.

 

[Mischief]

Ah, I see the problem now.
I don't think animals are anything like children. It's human arrogance that has led us to believe that we (humans) know better than the other creatures on this planet.
I find this a bit strange given the weight of evidence that suggests we aren't doing a very good job given our self assessment of being the most intelligent species here.
Just a thought.

Yes, I suppose animals should be thought of in many cases as lesser than children- mostly, I was speaking from an emotional, empathetic standpoint in that comparison. Practically, however, animals are not like children at all.

I'm not sure this approach is going to change my mind. Animals, domesticated animals in particular, do not know what is best for them in many situations- they have been relying on coexistence with human beings for thousands of years at this point. This is the same argument I hear from people who think it would be unthinkable to get their poor dog neutered, because a dog's masculinity is really important to him, right? He should be as nature intended for him to be! It's like he wouldn't be a real dog anymore. He'd definitely choose to keep his dingdings.

And then we have one massive issue of strays perpetuated.

I apologize, but I really can't agree with you on this point given this standpoint. Until another species formulate a system of writing and makes it clear they've given us a different assessment, the only assessment standing must be the winner by default.

 

[centrarchid]

Do not be lumping me in with "We Humans".