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

[bantam_crazy]

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.

i forgot this threads existence lol
I'm sorry if I came across that way

and yea. the respiratory issues you guys mentioned are one of the reasons I'm keeping myself away from indoor chickens. id don't know who to believe to be honest. and zebra finches or parakeets Arent a good choice . as they're very flighty birds. and even after hours of socialisation with humans can't be affectionate/interactive (?) apparently.

 

[bantam_crazy]

i forgot this threads existence lol
I'm sorry if I came across that way

and yea. the respiratory issues you guys mentioned are one of the reasons I'm keeping myself away from indoor chickens. id don't know who to believe to be honest. and zebra finches or parakeets Arent a good choice . as they're very flighty birds. and even after hours of socialisation with humans can't be affectionate/interactive (?) apparently.

also. thank tou to evertone who offered advice- be it enrichment & health
and yes. i asked parrot owners . and they told me. with regular cleaning & air purifiers. they keep multiple parrots. etc indoors. so why can't chickens . or something along those lines.

also I thought chickens were flock animals and we needed at least 2-3 .

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

also I thought chickens were flock animals and we needed at least 2-3 .

I think there are lots of opinions but also lots of research you can do before you make a decision. If there is an aviary near you or a zoo with lots of birds that might be a good hands-on bit of research. You could see the various enclosures they keep certain birds in and note how many of each, etc and maybe even talk to some people there. The internet can be great but it can also be misleading. We all have to find what works for US.

 

[NatJ]

I thought chickens were flock animals and we needed at least 2-3 .

Chickens usually seem to do better in a group.

There are occasional exceptions. For example, sometimes a chicken will have health issues that cause it trouble in a flock setting, or one gets bullied by other chickens so badly that it really is better for that particular chicken to live apart from other chickens.

 

[fat brown hen]

and yes. i asked parrot owners . and they told me. with regular cleaning & air purifiers. they keep multiple parrots. etc indoors. so why can't chickens . or something along those lines.

also I thought chickens were flock animals and we needed at least 2-3 .

Parrots and parakeets are also flock animals, but people often keep just one, and let humans become the "flock".

If there are chicken keepers in your area, see if you can "borrow" a few chicks to raise, and return them to the owner when they are feathered out. Then you can see if you enjoy socializing with chickens

 

[ShrekDawg]

i forgot this threads existence lol
I'm sorry if I came across that way

and yea. the respiratory issues you guys mentioned are one of the reasons I'm keeping myself away from indoor chickens. id don't know who to believe to be honest. and zebra finches or parakeets Arent a good choice . as they're very flighty birds. and even after hours of socialisation with humans can't be affectionate/interactive (?) apparently.

They can DEFINITELY be affectionate and interactive. Whoever told that didn’t know what they’re talking about. Mine would step up on my hand. And they LOVED music LOL and they CAN learn to talk too. There was one years ago on TV that did LOL but it’s easier with one (I had two) and easier with English Budgies rather than the American Parakeets at the pet stores. They are much calmer and bigger, etc. but also harder to find. I’ve heard it’s easier with a male too which I found to be true too. But yeah.

 

[earthling]

i found experienced people who support me actually. thank you for the insight though

i feel like there is no harm in trying, worst case scenario, chickens will go to a loving outdoor home. but again. your thinking the best for any animal is so kind , have w good day

You go, Bantam Crazy! Thank folks for their insight and care, and do what you want.

I'm an experienced chicken person, and I have 7 juveniles running around my living room right now, with a hay-covered moving blanket on the floor. When they feel like it, they hop up here next to me on the sofa (also covered with a moving blanket) and I give them a little cuddle. When they've had their fill of floor play, I put them back in their brooder, roll up the moving blanket, and set it in the corner. After a week, I shake the moving blanket outside, knock off any droppings, and toss it in the washing machine. Because I keep the brooder clean and use straw on the moving blanket, it just smells like hay in here, and I like that smell.

Mine are inside temporarily, because my coop is late being built, and I live in a wild place, so they need good protection. But I've enjoyed having them inside, and I love that they enjoy cuddling with me.

The reason I found this thread is, I asked Google for leads to people who keep their coop indoors and ideas of how to set up a house to accommodate it. I enjoy them so much, why not let them come indoors at night through an auto door, and go back out to a run during the day, per usual, except the coop is in my living room?

They're having a great time, scritch scratching around in the hay, and chatting softly while I work on my laptop. I'm remodeling my house, soon, and I fully plan to integrate an indoor coop into the remodel, with an auto door so they can go straight out to the run in the mornings.

Here's what matters more than other people's opinions: your joy. I'm embracing mine, and it sounds like you are, too!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

you can definitely raise chickens indoors! But, it's much more difficult.

 

[jenbright9999]

Parrots and parakeets are also flock animals, but people often keep just one, and let humans become the "flock".

If there are chicken keepers in your area, see if you can "borrow" a few chicks to raise, and return them to the owner when they are feathered out. Then you can see if you enjoy socializing with chickens

I agree. The people in this forum are always saying that you need at least 2 or more birds. This is completely B.S.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

Many people don't want to commit the time to fulfill a social flock animals social need, but similar to parrots and other birds as long as you can commit significant time bonding and preening and being their flock, it's fine. But if you're only with them like 20 minutes after work, that's unfair to the bird.