I'm getting awfully close to having a house chicken

[forrestacres]

You definitely need a house chicken. I had one for two weeks and I wish she was still in the house. Alas, she had to move back to the coop with her sisters.

 

[teach1rusl]

I wasn't clear, but is Fritz staying with the bantam babies in the bathroom??? Maybe he/she can just stay with them until it's time for them to go out??? That gives you more time to decide whether a housechicken would work for you. And if you decide not, then Fritz will still have some little buddies to hang out with, and won't be the only "newbie" when the bantams are introduced into the rest of the flock.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

If you keep the cutie in the house either put it with the bantams or bring in a buddy for it. It does make it more fun and if you truly want a chicken to interact with later this is the way to go.

 

[gryeyes]

Fritz is fully feathered, and the bantam chicks are much younger, requiring more heat, so I am not sure about putting them together. After snuggles, I did let Fritz walk around in the bathroom, but he didn't want to explore that much. S/he is very interested in looking at the cheepers and the call ducklings from above, in my lap, though.

I think Fritz will be inside at least until this weekend, when I get 3 days off. I will assess the Outside/Inside situation at that time.

Thanks, everybody, for the input!

 

[peacockfarmer1]

chickens are supposed to be kept outside in my opinion
if it cant survive outside it the law of the jungle "survival of the fittest"
plus would it poop all over the place?
chickens can never be real pets because they don't think or know there name
i dont think you should keep a chicken as a house pet because people that come over to your house will think that its wierd that you keep a chicken in the house if i had a chicken in the house i wouldn't eat anything in there chickens are nasty little creatures almost like a cat or snake
its just my opinion but don't keep a chicken in your house just sell it if its to weak to live in your flock and if its not let it live with other chickens in the mud and grass where it wants to be.

 

[HorizonSon]

peacockfarmer1; I am not an advocate of keeping livestock in MY house. MY chickens are livestock to ME. However; there are some people that keep chickens more for therapeutic reasons (some people keep a dog or cat for the same reason) and breakfast supplies come in at the #2 spot on the list... Try to offer positive, insightful and helpful information.
Thank you

 

[Sjisty]

If you go outside in my back yard and call, "Frack," you will see one hen raise her head and come running. Also if you call "Glory," a young cockerel will come. They will all come if they see food, but these two come to their names. This happens daily, so I truly believe they know their names. Also when I am outside feeding them and they are all gathered around eating the BOSS or treats I have thrown to them, I will call the names of a few of my favorites and more often than not that particular one will raise its head and look at me.

Frack, my "pet" chicken, comes in the house whenever she wants - she scratches at the door and one of us will let her in. She is very clean and does not mess on the floor. She has been coming and going in my house for a year now, so again, I don't believe it is just chance that she doesn't leaving anything on the floor, except an occasional feather. If I don't notice her scratching at the door to come in or go out, she gets very vocal until she has somebody's attention.

If people think I'm strange, so be it. Frack is definitely a pet by anyone's definition of the word and is cleaner than my caged birds.

 

[Jacklynn]

Quote:
I don't agree with this... My chickens are my pets and chickens can learn their names. They are not atupid animals and some do enoy human interaction...

 

[Judy]

Quote:

I already said I wouldn't keep a house chicken, either, but this is no reason to jump on people who choose to.

Excellent example of, if you can't say something helpful or positive, don't post.

 

[kyrose]

peacock,i beg to differ with you.i have quite a few chickens that know their names and a house rooster that definitely knows his name.if you came in my house you would never know i had one in the house.me and my family totally enjoy our house chicken...