Would it be inhumane to keep a chicken in an apartment?

[the209jungalist]

I say Yes with a bantam, I had my little bantam Roo and he followed me everywhere. Granite he did have a backyard, but preferred to be inside sitting on me. I would take that little guy everywhere with me and people loved him everywhere that I went.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Any updates cityegg?

 

[bargain]

I would suggest 2 silkies. Silkies love being held and are very "people" affectionate and are really such lovely birds....Check with your landlord first!

 

[CaroleW]

I saw a lady on you tube that kept 2 or 3 on her balcony. She had 2 large rubbermaid storage containers and stacked them, cut a hole in side of one so they could go to the 'run' that was the balcony that she added bird netting and maybe some more solid fencing around the rails so they were not as visible and had some shade. I think she cut a hole in the bottom and lid where they stacked so they could go upstairs to roost at night in the 'coop'.

She had a portable run made of pvc tubes and draped it with deer/bird netting and they could spend some outdoor time in the open field next to her apartment complex (although I think it was condos- so she didn't have a landlord).

 

[the Pollo Loco]

I like chickens but having to live with them is another thing... mainly the smell of poop in the morning would not go over very well.

 

[Squishypuff]

They really are stinky, and even with constant cleaning, you'll get flies like crazy. I don't think I'd want to have chickens living in an apartment with me.

 

[Theapplechicks]

I've seen lots of people w/ only one chick. They might enjoy having others but if they don't know any different they will be fine. We actually had one of our hens "run away" and we thought she was dead to a predetor but in fact a little boy up the street found her and she is now his pet and quite happy. I think it would be ok. They do get quite stinky. Maybe put some cat litter in there to try to help w/ the smell or get one of those rabbit hutches you could use as a coop that has the dropped down litter pan that you could clean out every day???

 

[Kulyks]

I think it would be ok to have just one, although it'd be better with two. As long as you dedicate time to them and care for them, you'll figure out what she needs.

 

[Theapplechicks]

Quote:
LOL! Too many chickens... who's ever heard of such a thing?

Good luck, keep us posted and maybe even some pics!

 

[Redcatcher]

It depends on the chicken. I had two buff silkies that simply could not deal with life outside. They sat like lumps and would starve to death if they had to walk any distance to the food and water. They had good vision and could walk just fine when they wanted to. They just refused to. So in the house they came and spent their lives in a plastic tote. One sat comatose inside the tote day and night, and the other would actually sit on the edge for a few hours during the day. Jumping back into the tote was a HUGE production that lasted several minutes. She would lean to one side while one foot tapping the edge of the tote . Then she would lean to the other side and tap with the other foot. That went on until she felt it was safe. All of a sudden...1...2...3....JUMP! About a foot down. Once in awhile she would fall out which was about 2' down. I would hear a loud scream and a thud. She would sit there until rescued. I still have one (she is 8 years old now) and she spends most of her time free ranging the house with a diaper. As far as them being smelly, they were/are NOT. ANY animal will stink if you are not diligent about cleaning up after them. An added bonus was that they made excellent "watch dogs" and would alert me when anyone drove in the driveway. Though it was more of a greeting than an alert sound.