Full time house Chicken

[Loddie Da]

Has anyone kept their peeps indoors full time? What about Roosters?
How many house Chickens have you kept at the same time?

The reason I ask is I am moving to Salt Lake City, Utah & will be renting a place in the city so my babies won't have much of a yard, plus I don't want my landlord to know

I'v had a house roo before but never had to deal with being under the radar with him, Mothers are the best landlords

So here's what I'm thinking, Let me know if you think it will work:

Get a cat playpen/parrot cage & add a nest (or maybe a rabbit hutch or small aviary?) for when I'm not home & use chicken diapers when they are out of their cage, Take them for daily walks using a figure "H" cat harness, which they will always wear with an ID tag & leg band & take them to the park as offen as I can, which will be atleast once a week.

I was also thinking of setting up a little sand box for dust bathing & a sod grass patch (2'x6', 2'x8' or 4'x4' in size) inside so they can still have some natural out door things available. I think I would have to change out the sod once or twice a week? & make sure it wasn't grown with pesticides ect.

Have I missed anything or do you have aother idea for me? Dose it sound like that would work to you?

I am thinking of keeping 3-6 birds & I am not sure want beeds yet, but I do have a few in mind. Please share your thoughts.


~Della~

 

[sugar pants]

I think it's an altogether bad idea. In fact, anything you have to hide from your landlord (or neighbors, or city zoning/animal control) is a bad idea.

Personally, I can't imagine having chickens live indoors. We have 3 pet hens, love them to death....but they are messy girls! But if that's your prerogative, then it's fine for you.

But having to hide it because it's not allowed or not approved is most likely going to end in your eviction or you having to get rid of your girls.

Options at this point are finding a different place to live (making sure that your chickens are okay first) or finding a new home for your chickens. Maybe someone with a little land that would allow you to have a coop for them in exchange for some eggs? You could still go there every day and care for them....and still spend less time than if you were walking 6 chickens on leashes (which also, is a pretty horrid way to not attract attention).

 

[Katy]

I don't think it's a good idea either. Find a new home for them where they can be chickens and not cooped up in a playpen all day.

 

[mandyp]

Quote:
OK, so you don't have ANY chickens, yet?? Then I wouldn't get them at all. Thats completely unfair to the birds, & I couldn't even begin to imagine what your house would smell like after a few weeks.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
OK, so you don't have ANY chickens, yet?? Then I wouldn't get them at all. Thats completely unfair to the birds, & I couldn't even begin to imagine what your house would smell like in a few weeks.

That little fact slipped by me! For sure don't get any birds! If you want a bird get a parakeet.

 

[city kid farm]

Do not get chickens to live in your apartment particularly if you do not own it. It is not fair to your chickens, landlord, neighbors or you. I have been keeping my small flock in my basement as I get the run and coop done and it has been horrendous having them in the house. You cannot overestimate how bad chickens can smell when pent up all day. You will end up constantly cleaning up after them - they poop ALL the time.

I am thrilled to say my girls are moving out today. Thank goodness.

 

[Loddie Da]

I won't hide them from the neighbors & I know you can have Chickens in SLC as long as your coop is 50' away from other houses. I'v had house chickens before, but they only spent 16 hours a day inside, so I don't mind the mess, as long as I don't have carpet it's easy just to vacum it up as long as they are wearing diapers. The landlord thing is what worries me most. My landlord will know I have pets & even birds inside I'm even going to tell them about the Doves & Pigeons, but the Chickens...I must say I not sure about. Now the one good thing is I am going to live in a house not an apt. but it dosen't have a yard safe enough for free ranging, only 4' fance in the back & none in the front, any big dog could jump it so that's a no go.

I think a rooster would be pushing it, but I'm sure the neighbors would be fine with a few hens...free eggs & I was thinking if I get fancy looking breeds like Silkies, Frizzled polish or something tiny such as Seramas people are less likely to act as if they are "just chickens."

At this point it's a dream I am just trying to work out.
The Animals & Plants would have their own room. I don't have the Chickens yet but I'v had a whole farm before & I miss the birds to much not to find a way, even if it's just a pair of old resuced hens I adopt I need to get some for my own mental health...It's driving me crazy, not that was a far drive.

BTW: I have 5 Parakeets already.


~Della~

 

[ranchhand]

Might be time to start thinking about the animal's welfare instead of you wanting it all now. Wait is all the advice I have - don't run the risk of eviction, don't amass lots of animals when you rent- what happens the next time you move? And if you have to move, future landlords may well check with that one - not a good reference.

I KNOW this because I DID all that when younger. I rented, and moved every couple of years when the rent shot up. It got harder and harder to find an affordable place that would take all my pets.

For your own sake, don't do it. For the chicken's sake, don't do it.

And just in case you decide to ignore common sense...... what are you going to do when you walk a leashed bird and a dog comes after the bird?

 

[teach1rusl]

So it's in your rental agreement than you can have pets? IF SO, then I'd consider a house chicken or two, but not several...and I would think a bantam or very light breed would be best. I would only do it if 1) your rental agreement allows for pets and 2) if you know that you'd take them out for playtime everyday so that they get to enjoy the outdoors. If they have the run of the house, that's some exercise...but you would have to be faithful about the diaper issue. And an aviary or something along those lines is no different than an open coop.
But if your chickens would be something you would try to hide from your landlord, I wouldn't do it, as you risk your chickens and risk getting the boot yourself. I would wait until you have your own place (which will eventually happen).

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I seriously doubt any landlord even thinks about pets including chickens when they say pets are allowed. Despite what some people (not me) on this board think, to the majority of people (me included) chickens are farm livestock.