House Chicken?

[WallyBirdie]

How does it work, having a house chicken?
I probably won't go this route but it is something to consider.

-I have an accident baby. Meaning, I found a hidden nest of 3 eggs, two eggs were old/rotten, but one hatched. It's a tiny fella, and it is alone. It may have imprinted on me. (Can chickens do that?)
I know flock integration can be difficult under more favorable circumstances, so... there comes the consideration of keeping one house chicken.

I know some people do it. But how does it work?

 

[azygous]

You don't necessarily need to assume this chick can never live with the flock. It just requires proper integration. I've had single chicks do very well in the flock.

You can keep a house chicken, but when you have an existing flock, really, why deprive them of the company of other chickens?

 

[Parront]

Hi! As the owner of an African Grey parrot who is a house pet, a flock is required, and you will be it! Did the hen abandon the nest? Could you get her to accept this chick? Even if you brood it alone, you could try to get it into the flock when it no longer needs heat. You might be able to go to the local feed store and get it a couple of nest mates. It is just as easy to raise 3-4 as 1.

 

[WallyBirdie]

Hi! As the owner of an African Grey parrot who is a house pet, a flock is required, and you will be it! Did the hen abandon the nest? Could you get her to accept this chick? Even if you brood it alone, you could try to get it into the flock when it no longer needs heat. You might be able to go to the local feed store and get it a couple of nest mates. It is just as easy to raise 3-4 as 1.

I have another post explaining the situation. I was cleaning out an old hay bale and found 3 hidden eggs. 2 were rotten and one was cracked with a beak poking out. No sign of a momma bird, and cats were in the yard. I took the egg inside and it hatched under a heat lamp. I now have a baby chick that may have imprinted on me. It cries when I am out of sight. It jumps up when it sees or hears me.
I did not plan to have more chickens until next summer. This hatch was unplanned but not unwelcome.
I might not keep it as a house chicken. I will likely integrate it into the flock when it is old enough. However, I am currently snuffing out a bullying situation in my flock, and I know that integration is not always smooth.
I am wondering if it might be a future option to keep it as a house chicken. But how? Is there a setup? Specifics? How do chicken diapers/nappies work?

I will try to integrate it. No plans for more peeps right now. But I am also looking into the 'hows' of house chickens.

It is nice to hear this from a parrot owner.
I have budgies and a conure.

 

[WallyBirdie]

You don't necessarily need to assume this chick can never live with the flock. It just requires proper integration. I've had single chicks do very well in the flock.

You can keep a house chicken, but when you have an existing flock, really, why deprive them of the company of other chickens?

The plan is to try integration when it is out of the brooder. But I also want to consider options, which is why I am asking how it works, to have a house chicken.

 

[M Brennen]

I have had chickens rehabbing in my house for long periods of time. I would think it possible to have a house chicken, but wouldn’t recommend it. Depending on what you use for bedding, they get smelly and messy. We had one bird in a dog kennel our basement with our cats. Even though we put catdboard up the sides, the shavings were everywhere.

One the bright side, we have always been able to integrate rehabbed or new birds into the flock. You just need to turn a blind eye and ignore the Pecking that comes with establishing their place in the flock.

 

[Parront]

I have another post explaining the situation. I was cleaning out an old hay bale and found 3 hidden eggs. 2 were rotten and one was cracked with a beak poking out. No sign of a momma bird, and cats were in the yard. I took the egg inside and it hatched under a heat lamp. I now have a baby chick that may have imprinted on me. It cries when I am out of sight. It jumps up when it sees or hears me.
I did not plan to have more chickens until next summer. This hatch was unplanned but not unwelcome.
I might not keep it as a house chicken. I will likely integrate it into the flock when it is old enough. However, I am currently snuffing out a bullying situation in my flock, and I know that integration is not always smooth.
I am wondering if it might be a future option to keep it as a house chicken. But how? Is there a setup? Specifics? How do chicken diapers/nappies work?

I will try to integrate it. No plans for more peeps right now. But I am also looking into the 'hows' of house chickens.

It is nice to hear this from a parrot owner.
I have budgies and a conure.

It will cry for you like you are it's mom, because you are! My grey accepts that I sometimes go to work, but chickens will just cry until you are back. Here is an AZ house chicken parent: @AngBantamLuv who is an expert!

 

[WallyBirdie]

It will cry for you like you are it's mom, because you are! My grey accepts that I sometimes go to work, but chickens will just cry until you are back. Here is an AZ house chicken parent: @AngBantamLuv who is an expert!

Thank you so much! Your grey sounds exceptionally close to you. That is wonderful!
I am a proud papa bird, often accused of playing mother hen. Constantly being overprotective. Advice is appreciated.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

@WallyBirdie i have 4 house chickens (was planning for 2)!!
How exciting!! Is yours a large chicken or bantam (or do you know?) I have 4 bantams, which i am calculating to equal a 1.3 regular size chicken (dont mess w my math).
So far it has been much easier than i thought it might be.. i did have to experiment to get things right, but it is definitely doable. I wouldn't plan on 4

 

[Parront]

Thank you so much! Your grey sounds exceptionally close to you. That is wonderful!
I am a proud papa bird, often accused of playing mother hen. Constantly being overprotective. Advice is appreciated.

Greys are exceptionally smart! She sees me getting ready, and says, "Go to work" and "Let's Go!" when I get her carrier. She will get in it and wait impatiently when she sees that we are packing for a trip.