enrichment/enclosure for indoor setup (plants,toys, etc)

[Appalachickens]

Sorry, not to me!

I'm just curious - assuming you don't live in one of those sterile germ-free plastic bubbles, how do you avoid nature?

 

[WildNectarine]

I'm just curious - assuming you don't live in one of those sterile germ-free plastic bubbles, how do you avoid nature?

Oh, don’t get me started, I’ll hijack this post! if I haven’t already!

 

[Chickenpoonumber2]

 

[fat brown hen]

These threads always turn into a bunch of concern trolling about how chickens are disease-ridden health hazards. As if dogs and cats don't shed dust and dander? And if you care about your respiratory health, better not allow any children in your house, cuz kids are the number one vector for respiratory virus...

 

[TOMTE]

These threads always turn into a bunch of concern trolling about how chickens are disease-ridden health hazards. As if dogs and cats don't shed dust and dander? And if you care about your respiratory health, better not allow any children in your house, cuz kids are the number one vector for respiratory virus...

No, it's just a fact that chickens produce a lot of dust and dander compared to the average dog or cat. So it's important to take that into consideration, is all. For their health and yours. No need to get upset about people pointing that out.

 

[TOMTE]

A question, how do you plan on letting your indoor chickens dust bathe? They need to have dirt baths, it's how they keep themselves clean and free of parasites. Will you be taking them outside daily to let them forage and dust bathe? Will you have a tub of dirt/sand inside? That'll get real messy real fast. They fling dirt around like crazy.

 

[fat brown hen]

No, it's just a fact that chickens produce a lot of dust and dander compared to the average dog or cat. So it's important to take that into consideration, is all.

One dog or cat compared to one chicken? No way. I had an "average" golden retriever that shed a chicken-sized ball of fur every day. And there's a reason so many people are allergic to cats (hint: it's the dander).

People automatically assume that "indoor chickens" equals a flock of a dozen or more, and then it becomes like a scene out of Hoarders with animals and feces everywhere. Really, you don't need that many chickens.

A question, how do you plan on letting your indoor chickens dust bathe? They need to have dirt baths, it's how they keep themselves clean and free of parasites. Will you be taking them outside daily to let them forage and dust bathe?

Of course you can take them outside, the same way you'd take a dog for a walk every day. If you only have one or two chickens, it's quite manageable. I took a group of four chicks on a trip because I didn't want to leave them in a brooder unattended. The nephews and nieces took them outside to play every day. Their indoor box was lined with old t-shirts. Shake the t-shirts out, throw it in the wash, and reuse. Chicks are so little, most of the dust is from the bedding.

 

[TOMTE]

One dog or cat compared to one chicken? No way. I had an "average" golden retriever that shed a chicken-sized ball of fur every day. And there's a reason so many people are allergic to cats (hint: it's the dander).

People automatically assume that "indoor chickens" equals a flock of a dozen or more, and then it becomes like a scene out of Hoarders with animals and feces everywhere. Really, you don't need that many chickens.

I didn't say one chicken compared to one dog or cat. I said chickens, plural. Plus, shedding fur isn't the same as shedding dander. Dander is where the allergies etc come from, not the fur. Again, it's just a fact that chickens produce a ton of dust and dander. One indoor chicken probably wouldn't be a big deal, as others have pointed out, it's messy but some people do have a house chicken if it's sick, injured, or aggressive to other chickens for example. But more than one chicken stuck in one room of a house is going to produce a huge mess of poop, dust, dander, etc. It would take multiple cleanings a day to keep that room clean and safe for humans and chickens.

ONE chicken poops every 8-12 minutes and 2 or 3 poops a day will be cecal. Multiply that by 2 or 3, and it gets really dirty really fast. Chickens have no qualms about walking in their poop and getting it everywhere. So that's another issue with keeping a group of chickens, even a small group, indoors. Is the OP willing to do that much cleaning every single day?

I'm not trying to tear anyone down. I'm just being realistic. Chickens aren't meant to be indoors. Can it work? Sure. But you have to be completely dedicated to the extra care those chickens are going to need to keep them happy and healthy.

I doubt it matters, because OP hasn't really responded to anybody except the people who have said "go ahead and do it", but still. Better to at least try and get them to see both sides of it.

 

[thecatumbrella]

These threads always turn into a bunch of concern trolling about how chickens are disease-ridden health hazards. As if dogs and cats don't shed dust and dander? And if you care about your respiratory health, better not allow any children in your house, cuz kids are the number one vector for respiratory virus...

You are allowed to have your opinion without putting down others as "concern trolling".

I hope the mods shut this thread down.

 

[KyCoop]

Also please note that only the quail people have said go ahead and do it. Nothing against quail, but quail are not chickens.
Please, if there are indoor chicken keepers please speak up. Now I'm not talking about caring for a special needs bird or the over wintering of seramas temporarily.