keeping house chickies: yes or no?

[silkiemother]

I was wondering about the upsides and downsides of keeping house chickens and so I decided to make it into a thread so I can hear about others views on keeping house chickens because I plan on making my biddies into part time house birds.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Well .... I wouldn't. But then, I have a very acute sense of smell and cannot abide the smell of chicken poop - or any kind of uncleanness, for that matter. But that is just my opinion.

 

[Henry&Friends]

I wouldn’t, they might decide not to leave the house, lol.

 

[leighks]

One of my hens had surgery at the end of December, and due to recovery, complications, and a very cold winter, she lived in the house for about 4 months. We enjoyed having her around, she would sometimes sit on my lap while I watched tv, and she liked to chase one of my cats. BUT she was so bored! She couldn’t scratch and forage like chickens do, and there wasn’t much to keep her entertained. While she tolerated being indoors she seems much happier being back outside.

 

[AltonaAcres]

I feel like chickens are MUCH happier outside. You could have your chickens outside during the day, then have them inside at night. Maybe you could put diapers on your chickens when you brought them inside.

 

[silkiemother]

that has been my plan A, plan B is hardwood and tiled floors only

 

[AltonaAcres]

Maybe a small, calmer breed would help. A serama, silkie, or some other bantam.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I personally wouldn't want to keep a chicken indoors all the time. They're much happier to be outside where they can scratch around in the dirt. But I don't have any problem allowing one to pop in for a visit occasionally.

 

[silkiemother]

my only problem would be keeping track of the babies and also keeping them off the carpet

 

[CountryRealtor]

I let my chicken (last survivor of the flock) come in on really cold nights over the winter and I would catch her looking in the windows and coming to the door when it was time for bed. lol She really loved being inside but I am super sensitive to smells and couldn't keep her in all the time. I would just grab her out of the coop when it was freezing outside since she didn't have any other chicks to roost next to.