Okay, Lets change his mind!

[fuzz]

My dad who is doing pretty much all the funding here

doesn't believe me that chickens can actually be friendly pets. He just tells me they are not pets. (He would know because he raised chickens whe he was young

)

I need to convince him because now I am no so sure of myself. CAN chickens make good pets? I have been handling my chicks so often so that they will be nice. Especially the one I think is going to be a roo.

I do plan on showing at small shows so I use that excuse for the bantams as he mainly wants producing hens like the barred rocks we are getting in june.

Any stories or information that can help me convince him that chickens aren't all mean.

 

[rebecca10782]

Of course they can!

We have the sweetest snuggleiest chickens ever

Just make sure to handle them several times a day and be consistant. A lot of chickens don't enjoy being picked up during the day while they can be scratching around, so try going into the coop at night and pet them and give them treats while they are roosting. Pick them up gently off the roost by slipping your hand under their feet and hold them close to your body so they feel safe. We have a bantam rooster that is the cuddleiest. We bring him in every night, put him on a chair to roost and feed him treats. The bantams are the easiest to handle because of the weight. They can just sit their in the palm of your hand

Although, we had a GIANT rooster that came in every night too. He loved to sit there and get his head scratched just like a cat

Here is a picture of him and my dad.

 

[Becky_H]

That's a bird settling in for a nap.

At the foot of my BED.

 

[spamee34]

He I wanna know something ! I do beleive chickens can be pets but if you bring them in won't they drop on the floor? Oh and nice roo pics!

spamee

 

[rebecca10782]

Quote:
Yes they do. You can buy chicken diapers. But we found it easier to just put a wee wee pad under our guy when we bring him in. He doesn't go anywhere, he just roosts on the chair. I have heard though, that some chickens have been potty trained. Don't ask me how

But that does make sense, because they know not to poop in their nests

 

[fuzz]

Great stories! I love how it is on your BED! We have a new rule at our house..no chickens in the house...

Wow that IS a giant roo! Wouldnt he scratch or dig into his back/neck?

CHICKEN DIAPERS?!

Where can I get those!!

 

[Becky_H]

Quote:
Yes they do. You can buy chicken diapers. But we found it easier to just put a wee wee pad under our guy when we bring him in. He doesn't go anywhere, he just roosts on the chair. I have heard though, that some chickens have been potty trained. Don't ask me how

But that does make sense, because they know not to poop in their nests

My guy's only 3 months old and won't go when he's out on the bed or in someone's arms. Presumably because those places are 'nests'. If we let him run around he'd go I'm sure, but he's perfectly safe on the bed or being held.

 

[rebecca10782]

Quote:
I do understand the rule though. I have OCD and have to clean a lot in order to feel sane.
That was Lucifer (formerly Lucy) he was the sweetest roo ever! He was very gentle, but we would put a towel over our shoulders to be safe and to keep from being pooped on

He didn't spend to much time on shoulders, I just put him on my dad's to take the picture. He generally does not like chickens on his back

 

[SunAngel]

Quote:
I have had probably 150-250 chicks/chickens come through here in the last year...how many have been mean....1.

Thats it, just one hen that was bought as an adult from an auction that turned out to have an attitude and was resold. All the rest have been sweethearts.

My parents had chickens when I was a teenager. They fed/watered them as chicks, but never handled them much and then turned them out to freerange with little interaction. All of their chickens were flighty, standoffish and didn't like people. I never wanted chickens because of that. Little did I know that it was the way they raised them, that made them how they were! Thanks to a friend sending us a McMurray catalog last Spring and BYC, I quickly learned how to raise chickens and make them friendly, entertaining additions to the family!

I now have a flock of 25 standards, a flock of 13 bantams, a breeding trio of Ameraucanas and 6 ducks....plus around 75 chicks and I consider them all to be pets! They all eat from my hand, don't mind being held and are never mean.

If you are a bad pet owner, then you get bad pets. It sounds like you love your chicks and if you put in the time, they will turn out to be very nice pets for you! There are a lot of misinformed adults out there, I applaud you for taking the time to try and learn something, both for your dad and yourself.

 

[rebecca10782]

Quote:
Yes they do. You can buy chicken diapers. But we found it easier to just put a wee wee pad under our guy when we bring him in. He doesn't go anywhere, he just roosts on the chair. I have heard though, that some chickens have been potty trained. Don't ask me how

But that does make sense, because they know not to poop in their nests

My guy's only 3 months old and won't go when he's out on the bed or in someone's arms. Presumably because those places are 'nests'. If we let him run around he'd go I'm sure, but he's perfectly safe on the bed or being held.

Aww what a well behaved chicky

I really do believe they have the potental to be potty trained.