Official Poll 2011 - Are Chickens Easier or Harder To Raise Than...

[WoodlandWoman]

I think they're less work. If you compare just a few chickens for personal use, it doesn't take much to house them or care for them.

Many people have a lot more than that, but that's a choice, like having a big pack of dogs. A flock that's a lot larger than you need for personal egg use takes more work, just like a big pack of dogs takes more work than just having one dog.

I agree that how you set them up makes a big difference in how much work they are to take care of. They can be as cheap or as expensive as you want them to be, too. It's all about the way you choose to do things.

 

[Lothiriel]

My girls are less work than my 2 dogs (Aussies) and a bit more work than the 2 cats. They are indoor/outdoor cats, but tend to spend a bit more of their lives out. The chickens are a lot LESS work than the cows though

 

[silky ma]

For me less work. I have 2 Keeshonds who require bathing, grooming and attention more than the 2 cats, another dog-german shepphard/aussie mix, 11 koi, 9 silkies +1 silkie with a clutch of 7 eggs- indoors with us. Yes the initial set up for the silkies took a week to build the house etc, but the koi took 3+ weeks to build the pond. So it depends upon what your brood consist of and how you raise them.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Chickens are way easier to keep and look after than horses by far. For example, roosters vs. stallions, the roosters are tons more easy to manage. And you go through much less shavings than the horses. Hay too.

But as for dogs, I will say more work than chickens (or maybe just that chicken work is more fun LOL!)

And cats, well they are kind of like the chickens, so they are kind of on the same schedule, let them out in the morning, make sure they have fresh water and their little food silo is filled, check the litter and you're done.

 

[ganesa_9]

Initial set-up for chickens CAN be more work and more expensive, but after the coop, tractor and maybe a boundary fence are finished... chickens can be pretty self-maintaining.

 

[duckinnut]

I guess its all in what you make of it. Only having a single dog to compare the chickens to,albiet not anymore as he passed a couple of weeks ago at age 14 but he lived a good life. Not many dogs get venison every night for dinner. But anywho,its really hard to compare as much as the chicks are turnkey so was my dog. Both need to be fed and watered daily. Dogs need to be let out,let in when and after doing their business in most cases,where as chickens are outside and do what they do. But you got to clean the coop. Basically there are pros and cons to all animals. I think when they are new require the most work in all animals. But when it comes to just chickens you can make it as simple or complicated as you want as well as other animals. I try to keep it simple as possible for them as well as myself. But believe me, my girls got it pretty good, probably better than some and not as good as others. Not unlike my dog,would never have taken him for a picture with Santa but had no problem cooking venison for him every couple of days to add to his premium food. He was a working dog and worked hard in his early life through his golden years and earned the special treatment. Same goes for the chickens they do what they do and I reward them for it. I dont really think it as work or a chore or if they are easier to raise than any other creature,they all have their problems. I treat it as a partnership,whether it be a retrieving dog or an egglayer or even a good mouse catcher.

 

[Pele]

All I know is that I didn't have to build a building for any of my other pets

 

[bugsaroo]

Less work than two horses, less work that 24 barn cats, less work than 21 runner ducks, ducks are a bit dirty, they are way dirty. Chickens aren't cheap to keep. I have about 75 right now and spend $25 bucks a week on feed. However, that is less than the horses, the cats, and even the ducks cost per week. You know where my paycheck goes. I need to start giving them more food scraps.

 

[UncleTommy]

I would say it depends on what you have, I am raising chicks and it is way more work than my pug.

 

[ki4got]

this poll was hard to answer LOL do you consider coop building or just care in general? I opted for care in general.
with 2 standard poodles, chickens are way easier. you don't have to groom them every few weeks at the least LOL
outdoor cats... they get food daily and de-matted a few times a year. i won't have small animals in the house ever again (aka rabbits guinea pigs etc) WAY too much work, and you get nothing out of them but poop. (and holland lops are way too small and cute to eat). and indoor cats shed too much so they're outside now. (see above)

so what do i have in my house? an incubator with eggs, a hatcher with eggs, 3 large tubs with chicks, a dog crate with broody and chicks (ok well she's outside under the deck). oh and the dogs, a hubby, a teenage macaw (18), elderly cockatiel (19) and a middle-aged parakeet (10). oh yeah. and a hubby.

so as far as high maintenance it's a toss between the dogs and hubby LOL. the chickens rank much lower (not counting coop building/maintenance)