Making this whole chicken thing harder than it has to be

[rooster-red]

Just a little food for thought...

If your dad thinks its silly to worry about poopy butts on grown hens, then his hens might eventually die from lice and mite infestations that cause the problem.

I'd rather be thought to be silly and catch problems like that.

 

[Lunachick]

I totally enjoy being goofy with my chickens, and caring for them and worrying about them.

I just want them to enjoy their chicken lives when they can, and if I can do that for them, so be it.

 

[mudhen]

I agree that we do make it harder than it could be. But we do so because we can, and so we treat them as pets, not as a food source.
Those of us who are appalled to learn how chickens are treated in industry feel a certain responsibility in making the lives of those animals we've brought into our backyards a little easier, friendlier, fun.
In our own small way, some of us may be trying to make up for the harm that caused by the callousnes of the industiral treatment of animals. After all, we buy the cellophaned wrapped results and throw them on our grills or into the deep friers.
And who of us didn't buy the perfect white graded pale tasting eggs from the market, before we were gifted with delicious, colorful and sometimes dirty eggs from happy girls in the yard?
So yes, we may care a little too much and some may go a little overboard, but I think its be cause we can. I like to think that if so many can worry over the comfort and well being of their chickens, that these are the same folks who will go out of their way to to care for other animals, strays or abused, and try to make their lives easier.
I'm just glad to have found such a great group of folks that can and do care. Even if it is harder than it has to be!

 

[Cassandra]

To be honest, I really don't do that too much. I think I have chickens in the first place because I am trying to recreate my childhood. My grandmother (whom I lived with a lot of my childhood) had chickens for a long time--mostly for eggs, and sometimes we would eat them, but not very often.

Personally, I believe they would be much happier living in the trees. That makes me feel like the things I do provide for them are for their safety and my convenience.

I keep them penned up in a coop because experience has taught me that I will lose them to predators if I don't. They probably much preferred it when they were free ranging and roosting in my plum trees at night. Plus it is much more convenient for me if I know where to find them and their eggs.

I feed them a good quality laying feed. I don't have any delusions that they like that better than what they would dig up if they were allowed to roam free. (Can you imagine if your diet was made up primarily of monotonous grain based pelets?!) I do supplement them with some forage and table scraps almost every day. I hope this will help keep them healthier and happier, because healthier happier chickens benefit me.

If one got sick, I would separate her and try to keep her comfortable, make sure she had food and water easily available and let nature take its course. If one was injured and obviously in pain with little hope of recovery, I would try to euthanize it as humanely as possible.

I actually feel more guilty for keeping them, taking their eggs and making them live in unnatural circumstances than for the things I don't do for them (like wiping their dirty butts or giving them air conditioning.) My goal is to give my chickens enough that it balances out the things they give to me.

Cassandra

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Being a newbie, I tell you I am worrying WAYYY to much but I want to be a good 'mother hen'. I want them to be healthy, happy and most of all safe. Yes, I want a 'cute' coop, I want 'pretty' chickens and good eggs. Dixie

 

[mom'sfolly]

Yes we probably go overboard here, but the difference is that for most of us chickens are pets or hobbies. For our parents or grandparents they were background...kept to provide food and keep down bugs. Like most Americans we spend to much time and money on our hobbies and pets; and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[NYREDS]

My chickens are not pets they are livestock.
I care for them properly because they are more productive if I do. I keep them clean & free if infestations because they have to look good to show well.That said I think your Dad's a wise man.

 

[Guitartists]

I think it's the difference between seeing an animal as livestock or as a pet. Plenty of people keep animals in minimal type conditions.. food, water, shelter..period. And some of us like to do extra, even if not neccesary... toys, treats, games, teaching tricks, extra comforts, etc. I don't think either way is better than the other, so long as there is no neglect and the animals are healthy and balanced.

 

[sunnychooks]

I agree with everyone in as far as we relate to our chickens more as pets than utilitarian. However, there are some differences between the way people used to raise chickens years ago and now that may require us to be a bit more meticulous in raising our chickens. First of all, we live in a society that is far removed from the "good ol' days" on the farm. There are neighbors who complain about noise and smell. They are the primary reason why there are now laws that mandate how many, where and in what conditions we may keep our chickens. Secondly, the national obsession with bio-security has an effect on how we raise our chickens. Finally, we know more now than we did then about how disease, bacteria, parasites and viruses affect the health and well being of our chickens. Maybe it was more simple to raise chickens back then because there wasn't as much to worry about.

 

[KrisRose]

I sweat the small stuff. ALL of it. I'm so picky that I squeal when I walk. Not only do I take good care of my chickens but also my horse, dog, and cats.
If you actually lived in the "good old days" you would find they were not so good after all. Even then there was a difference between farmers on how they kept their livestock. Farmer Pete practice good husbandry while Farmer Joe could'nt be bothered with their animals. So the care of animals 50 years ago depends on which old timer you talked to. The one I talked to told me about losing toes on their chickens in the wintertime. So yes, I provide heat when its bitter cold out and I'm in the house fretting over everybody outside and wondering were that squeal is coming from

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