people with house chickens

[Sylvester017]

If anyone loves dogs and hummingbirds, this news video is a must see. We're on a hummingbird migration route so we feed them year-round. I've rescued a couple of them over the years but they were too far gone to survive but I brought them inside to die in peace -- other hummies are so territorial and brutal to one another and will throttle another injured hummie to death! This video is a happier story:

 

[JaeG]

If anyone loves dogs and hummingbirds, this news video is a must see. We're on a hummingbird migration route so we feed them year-round. I've rescued a couple of them over the years but they were too far gone to survive but I brought them inside to die in peace -- other hummies are so territorial and brutal to one another and will throttle another injured hummie to death! This video is a happier story:

That is truly gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. My daughter was fascinated.

I've been lurking here for awhile but I've got 4 bantams that I'm considering keeping inside permanently. They were hatched together by my broody bantam, 3 pekin (cochin) bantams and a booted bantam, all 16 weeks old. It's winter where I am and the 3 pekins caught some kind of respiratory bug despite only going outside on fine (but windy) days and sleeping indoors. One got over it very quick, the booted hasn't had it at all, and the other two took a month to get over it. So I started putting them outside again (on fine days) but one has again got rattly breathing and coughs every now and then. So they are indoor birds once again. I have no idea where the bug even came from as they go out in an enclosed run with no contact with my other girls (who are healthy but as sick of our wet, windy winter as we are)! I think my husband will be buying me chicken diapers for Christmas!

So, hi everybody - I love this thread.

 

[Sylvester017]

That is truly gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. My daughter was fascinated.

I've been lurking here for awhile but I've got 4 bantams that I'm considering keeping inside permanently. They were hatched together by my broody bantam, 3 pekin (cochin) bantams and a booted bantam, all 16 weeks old. It's winter where I am and the 3 pekins caught some kind of respiratory bug despite only going outside on fine (but windy) days and sleeping indoors. One got over it very quick, the booted hasn't had it at all, and the other two took a month to get over it. So I started putting them outside again (on fine days) but one has again got rattly breathing and coughs every now and then. So they are indoor birds once again. I have no idea where the bug even came from as they go out in an enclosed run with no contact with my other girls (who are healthy but as sick of our wet, windy winter as we are)! I think my husband will be buying me chicken diapers for Christmas!

So, hi everybody - I love this thread.

Hi, New Zealand! Beautiful country! So lovely that you share love for animals with your youngster! As hardy as large fowl and bantams can be, sometimes ailments are brought into the yard by wild birds so it's an uphill battle keeping our poultry disease-free. I have a bantam bearded Silkie that has CRD issues and cold, windy, or rainy weather will bring on an episode and I either have to take her to the vet or keep her indoors if it's a mild episode. She hates being isolated from her flock but I don't want to lose an otherwise healthy spunky bird. She was an indoor bird her first 3 months with us until she was old enough at about 6-months to integrate with the flock. Frankly, I was so ready to have her go outdoors permanently as I was exhausted changing diapers, laundering diapers, shampooing and drying her tush feathers, etc. I wouldn't trade the experience for the world but really was glad when she became an "outdoor" bird. Only have to bring her in occasionally if the weather goes bad. I use children's no-iron liquid children's Poly-Vi-Sol vitamins to give her regularly (about 1 or 2x/week) or more often if she is recuperating from a vet visit besides her usual balanced feed, produce, supplements, and treats.

HOME-MADE DIAPER FOR SILKIE


SILKIE ESCAPED THE HOUSE TO TAKE A MUD-BATH WITH HER DIAPER STILL ON!


THIS BLUE WHEATEN AMERAUCANA REFUSED TO MOVE IN HER DIAPER AND AFTER SULKING FOR A WEEK WE DECIDED NOT TO FORCE HER TO WEAR IT! SHE WAS A DIFFICULT SELF-WILLED CHICKEN. WE FOUND THE BANTAMS MUCH EASIER TO DEAL WITH DIAPERS.

 

[Lisa Wood]

Hi, I have a unexpected rescued young chicken inside too! This is my first post and I'll admit, I don't know hardly anything about chickens but this baby has me wrapped around her/his little claw. I've had (we call her Precious) for a month now, she's messy but I love her. I'd like to ask if anyone has any tips on how to bond with a chicken? I desperately want her to trust me but she's scared of everything. Also, can anyone tell me if she's a he or am I right calling her Precious? Any kind of advice would be very much appreciated! :cd

I also know/knew nothing. My biggest mistake, cause I wanted lap chickens, was we had brooder on floor, so we were constantly over their heads, which freaks them out. I try not to pick them up overhead now, but I think damage is done. If I ever brood chicks again, brooder us going on a table. When we sit on ground at their level they are all over us.

 

[Lisa Wood]

I am sorry. The picture of your baby with diaper walking away from garden, and your caption is so so funny! You got my funny bone!

 

[JaeG]

My only thought was the wild birds as the outdoor run they were in only has wire covering it, not a proper roof like our big girls (well, light breeds and bantams) run. And there certainly are a lot of hungry birds in our garden at the moment.

We do have a pen that they can be in indoors but it has 7 week old Orpington babies in it at the moment (we are raising some for my Mum - one of our bantams was very clucky and willingly adopted them but she gives up by the fifth week). So it would only be if they were out of that for any long period of time that they'd need a diaper on. The young bantams are just in an indoor guinea pig cage and being so good about being stuck in there. Two of them are very friendly but I've been paranoid about the kids touching them then the Orpingtons so I haven't been letting them handle the bantams. Our son, who is 5, adores the booted bantam and has missed cuddling his Ducky (she's a bit shy so I think she's enjoyed a break)! I have to say my little bantams are so much tidier and eat so much less than the Orpingtons (who are already as big as them). It's crazy how fast the large breeds grow. The Orpington chicks are so sweet though and one adores cuddles and shoulder rides. We'll miss her when she goes to live with Mum.

My Mum found a 'sick chook' supplement recipe full of all sorts of things and our bantams seem to love it. They haven't been so sick that I've thought I needed to take them to the vet (I'm in the city so it would be pretty pointless to as they aren't a cat or dog). It's just little Cotton giving the odd cough now so fingers crossed she will recover soon.

Love the photos of your birds. They do look cute in diapers!

 

[MsChickenMomma]

My boyfriend and I's house babies, Sunni and Frizz.

I'm sure some of you may remember my miss Sunni. She has lived in the house with me for almost three years. Frizz is the new arrival. She lived in the house with my boyfriend for a few months, before he had to move her out with the rest of the flock. He moved in with me a little over a month ago, and was able to bring her along. Now she is a spoiled rotten house chicken again. I'm honestly lucky to have found someone that loves chickens almost as much as I do... Haha.

 

[spazy67]

Hi, I have a unexpected rescued young chicken inside too! This is my first post and I'll admit, I don't know hardly anything about chickens but this baby has me wrapped around her/his little claw. I've had (we call her Precious) for a month now, she's messy but I love her. I'd like to ask if anyone has any tips on how to bond with a chicken? I desperately want her to trust me but she's scared of everything. Also, can anyone tell me if she's a he or am I right calling her Precious? Any kind of advice would be very much appreciated! :cd

Oh so sweet i find with mine treats treats Mine at first were picky had to find that special something so may have to try a few things but i respect there space and this all was as chicks tho so as a rescue may need more advice then i can give i know i still have one i force for a minute then he settles in and loves it.

 

[1ChickenHome]

I got two silkie chicks on July 11 when they were about two weeks old. They're now about four weeks old but they still don't like me! What should I do? Once I get them out, I can get them to perch in my lap or on my arm. At what age do they bond or get affectionate? And does anyone know at what age it makes sense to potty train them?

 

[spazy67]

I got two silkie chicks on July 11 when they were about two weeks old. They're now about four weeks old but they still don't like me! What should I do? Once I get them out, I can get them to perch in my lap or on my arm. At what age do they bond or get affectionate? And does anyone know at what age it makes sense to potty train them?

I am not going to pretend I know anything, I can share about my silkie roo. He is about 18 weeks and raised with anouther friend in the house most of the time. Even with being so hands on I still have to pick him up with a stern No to make him stop trying to get away, but once I get him on my lap and settled down he is fine however I have lost the hope of him just jumping in my lap on purpose like his friend my frizzle does. As far as potty training I have gotten them used to what I call towel time lol if they come in the living room it is straight to the towel. It took only about a week to get them doing it they have free range in the kitchen and I have a kid door to keep them in kitchen when it is not towel time. I put a food bowel and water on the towel and just repeated on your towel towel towel as I would herd them on the towel and they usually lay down and chill until they need to chase one of the dogs off the towel. Also when they would step on the towel they used to get a treat along with a happy sound from me now it just a happy sound and a treat when I want to give them one. My next step tho is to try dippers since that sounds like the most popular way of dealing with inside chicken. Good luck. Thanks for bringing this up would be nice to get some professional input on a silkie with a attitude.