how much human time?

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We spend probably an hour and 1/2 per day feeding, watering. Weekends, usually Saturday is about 4 to 5 hours for weekly chores. Sunday a couple hours wrapping and boxing eggs to get ready for Monday shipping.

Steve in NC

 

[gotpoodle]

Thank you so much for responding!

That's what I was hoping to hear... I love having animals around me and observing their behavior, but I own a pet sitting business ~ and a diva poodle ~ so I'm looking to have animals that are less needy in terms of emotional output!

 

[Becky_H]

I keep chickens as pets who happen to lay eggs rather than livestock, but even then they're less demanding of my time and attention than any other pet I own, except maybe the hamster. They're CERTAINLY nothing like my amazon ;-)

Seriously, I probably spend a copule of hours a day with them, but most of that's watching them play with each other. I'm there, they're good and happy to see me and solicit attention and food, but when I'm not they're perfectly happy to wander off and eat the lawn or gossip amongst themselves.

 

[Davaroo]

Mine get hardly any.

I set up my waterer and feeder so it is all relatively self regulating.
I go out there twice a day to check on things, collect eggs and once I week I clean the coop and brush out the dust. So lets say 15-20 minutes direct interaction on average.

But I keep a small flock and they are not pets in the normal sense of the word.

 

[CityChook]

They don't need you. But you might find that you want to hang out with them.

Mine are pets. I hug them all every day. But do they need me? No. Do they rely on me keeping them safe and giving them food/fresh water? Yes. I enjoy them hanging out with me while I do yard work. I think they do it in hopes that I'm going to lavish them with more treats.