How many of you that have pet chickens.........?

[chickensioux]

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Yep, these too. I have an area just for burying complete with concrete angel. Anyone at any time could point at any of my chickens and ask "what's her name". They are all named.

 

[juliawitt]

I hated chickens as a child......Then I got my babies in August. My husband and I are both shocked at how much we enjoy (and secretly) love them. Yes, to all the above!!! I only have a few named, but I cuddle all of them!!! They get special treats, I scoop poop everyday, clean the water, and go out to visit (when I'm at home all day) 3 or 4 times a day. I count them each and every night and morning. I constantly look for any sign of unhappiness or disease. It is amazing how these simple creatures have brought such joy into our busy lives. Let us not forget, they have a "treat" portion of the grocery list....yougurt, cheese and apples.
We LOVE our chickens..........

 

[usschicago1]

EVERYTHING exept fresh water daily. I do it once it gets dirty. That could be twice a day or twice a week. If i wouldnt want to drink it then its changed

 

[eggsrcool]

Lock them up safely every night? Yes
Let them out and feed every morning? Yes
Watch your flock and look for issues? (health, predator, etc.) Yes
Touch your birds frequently and look for health issues? Yes. Some of my chickens will run away from me though

Sit with them and hold them?O hold them, but dont sit down, but sometimes I do, until they start to fall to sleep

Fresh water daily?When it is dirty or needs filling, but I always have a fresh one ready if needs be
Clean coops regularly?Once every week- I hate dirty coops soooo much!
Do preventative maintenance? (worming, etc.)Yes, worming once a month and ACV in water as a preventative for worms
Treat (to the best of your ability) any health problems?Yes, always to the best of my ability- I spent 5 days on the last ill hen, but sadly she died

Give healthy treats?Yes, lettuce cabbage etc... and sometimes dried mealworms which they

Mourn the loss of one?Always
Cook for themNo, only cooked leftovers from kitchen after we eat
Name themMost of them
Bury them Yes and if the hen was particularly close to my heart, I put flowers in the grave before I bury them, then I put flowers on its grave quite often

 

[sonew123]

100% Im addicted to spending all my free time with them-in fact last night after I did the head count-I flipped up a bunch of them to chck for parasites crawling near their vents--clean again

 

[chickenbottom]

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sounds like me also to this list my egg selling and they are the perfect pets

 

[Keri78]

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Too Funny!!! I second this amendment to the list!

We do all of these things and although our initial thoughts with getting chickens was just for the the purpose of getting yummy natural eggs...they have become pets and caring for them has become our hobby(me & my boys..not Hubby..(yet)...just waiting until they start laying and then I think he'll be more involved. Although he did build us some sweet tractors to start out! Blessings, Keri

 

[77horses]

I do!

 

[muttly]

Yep, spoiled chickens!

 

[Nostalchic]

Yes to almost all of that. I also just spent an hour this morning shoveling heavy wet snow out of their very large run so they could get out into the sunshine - before I shoveled our walks or driveway or... did anything else, actually. Why do you ask? Isn't this all pretty typical behavior for most of us? Some posters here are more business-like about their chickens, but my impression is that they are clearly not the majority here on BYC!