Should Chickens live in your home?

[fribble]

My boyfriend has a 6ish month old chicken. It is his first chicken and he wants to do what is best for her. She is living in his living room. Her cage was a rabbit hutch but she pecked a hole in the floor and was pushing her bedding through it and the floor was impossible to keep clean. Now she is temporarily in a wire cage with a mesh floor so her droppings will fall thru to the catch pan. She is allowed to roam around the living room and kitchen when he is home during the day so she does get a lot of exercise, though she has never been outside.
The mess and the smell are overwhelming. She is pooping in her water dish and tipping it over so that is cleaned and refilled every few hours.
He does not want to give her up but will if living inside is not in her best interest.
He is a contractor and can build her an indoor coop, he just needs advise on the design. One that can be easily kept clean and that will keep a chicken happy.
Also, how do we reduce the smell. I don't think it is healthy.

 

[farnorth]

As far as I am concerned chickens are not housepets and it's very unsanitary. I think the chicken would like to live outdoors where it can scratch the ground for bugs and eat grass etc. I don't think it is healthy for the chicken or for people to have them in the house pooping on the floor.

 

[jmandawn]

I've seen Chickens as house pets and you can look on YouTube and see several videos of chickens who live in houses. They make diapers you can put on them.

Personally, after they get to be two weeks old, outside they go!

 

[Primo]

I've seen Chickens as house pets and you can look on YouTube and see several videos of chickens who live in houses. They make diapers you can put on them.

Personally, after they get to be two weeks old, outside they go!

I can't believe I just read this. I am still trying to wrap my mind around it. LOL

 

[appps]

The other thing to think about is her being alone all the time. Because he is working she would spend a lot of time without even human company and being a flock bird that is not good for her either. She should really have at least one friend preferably two.

We kept our chicks inside from about 5-7 weeks and that was it for me smell wise. They have such fun scratching in the garden and eating grass. Has he not got a yard of some sort?

 

[Primo]

Fribble, As with anything in life, I am sure it could be done, but as far as best interests of the bird, It really should be your best interests in mind here. Ok, someone else can chime in here as I could not fathom keeping a chicken indoors (I assume this is an apartment). But if someone put a gun to my head and told me I had to I guess I would build an enclosed coop at least 4' x 4' (larger the better) with an easily removable tray for daily cleaning. A hanging waterer (or nipple waterer) Make sure it is enclosed so she can't kick stuff out everywhere. No matter what, you are going to be doing a lot more dusting. Good luck

P.S -- I just could never stand indoor birds (parrots, cockatiels, etc) just lots of noise and a big mess

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Time for a new boyfriend

 

[johnmclaren]

According to me,you have to do one this that make him understand that chickens are not house pets they love to live outdoor. And i don't think they are healthy for people to have them in their house.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I know that there are some people who keep chickens as house pets. Personally I would never consider it because I don't think it suits the natural tendencies and desires of the bird. Chickens want to be around other chickens, they want to spend their day scratching and foraging in the dirt and grass, dig holes and take dust baths, sun bathe and just be a chicken. Being kept alone in a small cage in the house, even with the occasional run around the house, doesn't fulfill any of those natural activities.

There are usually ways to force things to work the way we want them to but just because you CAN do something does not mean you SHOULD do something.

Good for you for trying to figure this out and do it right. If he does decide he must keep this bird indoors be aware that chickens, well all birds, require a certain amount of direct sunlight, not filtered through window glass, in order to process vitamin D. If she cannot get outside on a regular basis then an artificial UV light would be needed a few times a week. I would really suggest that if he's able to build a coop then consider placing it outside with a run and get her a friend or two. Let her be a chicken.

 

[CedarAcres]

There are some people who do keep them inside. Although I personally wouldn't. They are much happier in a flock of other chickens, outdoors. They are naturally very social and want to spend all of their time with their flock mates. Being kept in a small cage inside is not mentally stimulating enough for them in my opinion, especially by themselves most of the time. Is it possible for him to build her a small coop and maybe get her a compainion? She can be outside in the coop and run with her friend all day so she is not lonely. He can still bring her inside for play time if he'd like to, but I think she'd be happy outside with a friend.