people with house chickens

[PhantomChikkinz]

Quote:some people just don't get it when you say "House chicken" they aren't production hens you clean once a day and feed every so often. there is no such thing as "sometimes you lose one" or "looks like he needs to be culled." We raise them from the size of an egg, we eat with them, sit with them, learn their individuality. Its a companion thing. they become part of our life. People don't get it. but we do. Thank everyone here. they all deserve it

Kyle I just wanted to say that i liked what you wrote. Some people dont' understand....you seem toget it though. I am not trying to start a war here and this is in no way any reference to the whole chicken dinner argumment a few posts ago, just so were clear. All i can speak for is myself. I'm tenderhearted and love animals. I can't even eat eggs anymore since owning chickens. sad huh. But I have absolutewly no prob cruisin through the drive up at McDonalds and ordering nuggets....come to think though, those probably arent even chicken lol. But im just saying that this is what i love about this forum in particular is that people here understand me. i love my birds, cant and wont eat them for any reason...butI know that some people can and do raise their chickens for food. But I think they start aout knowing that it is going to be a menu item. not me. I am married to an avid hunter and fisherman. I am also going to school for vet tech. So you see, I have a battle in my own home. I'm learning how to save them and he's trying to figure out new ways to blow them up ha ha. We are a unique breed of people here and I am greatful that there are others out there like me. People with house chickens rule!

Agreed! As you probably guessed, I'm with both of you. I have chickens for no other reason than to enjoy their company as pets. I don't care if I ever see a single egg from the 13 house chickens I have. A day like today is the kind of thing I enjoy so much; not having to work, sun shining, watching my birds scratch and peck to their little hearts' content in the back yard, picking one up every now and then to give them a hug and a scratch on the neck, talking to them and hearing them talk to me... It's a wonderful thing Now, how in the world could I ever chop these little ones up and cook them? I agree with the earlier sentiment wholeheartedly - I would no sooner serve my chickens for dinner than I would my dogs or cat. They're family, they're loved. It's as simple as that. Some people don't get it, and that's fine. BYC has many other places those people can post. Now, I'm not looking to fan the flames here, but I will say this: Coming onto a house chicken forum and posting a picture of a chicken dinner IS looking to start an argument. Actually, it's worse than that. What this person is doing is TROLLING. It's disrespectful, petty, childish, and mean. Now, I'm not personally offended by it (I'm a carnivore, after all), nor do I take issue with those who raise their own meat birds. However, this person intentionally decided to try to ridicule the ways of the people on this forum. That is such stupid and immature behavior for someone, who I'm assuming, is an adult. Here's a tip from me: Grow up and learn some manners. We don't ridicule what you do, so show some respect and take a page from our book by not trying to start fights with people who are different than you. You'll be a better person because of it. I don't care if I get banned for being confrontational or insulting, or whatever. Someone had to say it.

 

[PhantomChikkinz]

Oh, and Theresa,

I'm really glad to hear that Faith is doing better! GO HOUSE CHICKENS!!!!

 

[Chickie Momma]

Get on with yourself American mom...you dont belong here it is obvious

 

[gryeyes]

Back to people with house chickens... Sparkle my house Silkie has been taking her two chicks (she hatched them, they weren't her eggs) into other rooms of the house now. She has shown them the dogs' food and water dishes, much to my eldest dog's dismay. He barks at chicks IN his food dish. Sparkle fluffs up and challenges him; he gives me the most pitiful looks.

I try not to laugh at him.

Whenever I come out of the kitchen, Sparkle runs to my feet and hops, reaching up for any possible treats I should have for her. Sometimes she follows me into the kitchen, expectantly.

If I do have treats, she calls her chicks, then takes the bits to give them to each baby. In this way, she is teaching them not to be afraid of me. They are two weeks old today.

Punkin, my other House Chicken - at night, because she goes outside on her own during the day and comes inside to "coop up" in the Big People Coop - is beginning to get interested in laying again after her Winter Hiatus. She has been looking for suitable places to lay.

Two other hens take advantage of the door I leave open for Punkin and Sparkle and come inside ONLY to lay their eggs in a covered kitty litter box used specifically for that purpose: a nest box. It is filled with pine shavings.

It sure makes it easy to gather those two eggs each day!

 

[Chickie Momma]

Kyle is my Bud-dy! Go Kyle. I found something disheartening today. I went to feed and water the girls and Marilyn was laying on her left side in a pile of poo. I stood her up but no deal she cant walk and stands on her head. She is very alert and active when I let her alone too long. I fed her some yogurt and am worming her and all the others. While I was bathing her, I saw worms in the poo but not a ton, just a couple. She is also my non laying hen. I think she has a hormone problem bec she didn't mature like her sis. She is eating and drinking and watching tv. I am trying to keep her off her side, warm, clean fed wormed and hydrated. I will also give her yogurt again later...she loves it. Right now my girl is dozing on a pillow in my lap in front of the heater.

 

[PBGGG]

This is Finn's cage for sleeping at night. It is a dog carrier that we bought for $10. What do you guys keep your chickens in?

 

[gryeyes]

Uhhhh.. Hmmm. I wish I was that organized and/or tidy. I keep my house chickens in... the house. Punkin roosts -for sleep - on the audio bar in front of the TV set. I have learned to watch TV around her.

Sparkle sleeps - with her chicks - in the dog bed under the TV table.

 

[kendradillon]

princess is sooooo cute!! my muffy dosnt mind her diapers but cheeks did she did backwards brodies for the first 10 min and then she was fine. muff is diapered 24-7 now so she can roam everywere and goto work with me

 

[PBGGG]

So far, the only bad thing about having Finn in the house is his fighting and the occasional poo escaping his diaper (and landing on my bed, of course).

I put his diaper on as soon as I wake up and right before I put him to bed. I usually change it once or twice a day. Where did you get your diapers from, kendradillion?

 

[PhantomChikkinz]

Ah, so Finn is his name. That's right... I forgot. Haha.

My chickens stay in this:

I have two of them set up side by side in my living room. Phantom, Polka Dot, Onyx, and Pearl all stay in one, and my 5 D'uccles, modern game bantam, and Sebright stay in the other. Tractor Supply sells them, and while they might not be the most sturdy thing made (and they're kind of frustrating to assemble), they're absolutely perfect for what I need. The metal tray is far enough from the floor (which is vinyl coated wire) so the chickens don't try to peck away at whatever material you're using to absorb the turds, the front folds down into a ramp so the chickens can come and go as they please, and the roof is rear-hinged and opens completely. There's even a safety chain to keep the roof from hyper extending the hinges.

If you're keeping birds inside, I can't recommend this thing highly enough. Sure, it's a little cheesy as far as the basic construction is concerned, but it's super convenient to clean, the tray weighs practically nothing, it's light enough for one person to move, and it fits through a standard sized doorway if you prefer to just move the entire thing outside to clean it (although you really don't have to, I just prefer to take the floor out and hose it down every now and again).

I used to fill the tray with kitty litter, but that does get kind of expensive (and kitty litter is very heavy, which required a couple of extra screws to reinforce the tray rails). These days, I'm just filling the trays of both coops with pine shavings. They work better than kitty litter when it comes to keeping odors down, and makes moving the tray around even easier because of the lack of any substantial weight.

During the winter months, you can get them cheap. The last one I bought only cost $129.99. During chicken season (spring/summer), they jack the price up to around $160-$170.

Even at the inflated price, they're a tremendous value.