Wess Pets and Feed Chicken Breeds
If you're lucky enough to live in an area where you're allowed to have chickens as a pet, you should strongly consider it! Not only do chickens make excellent pets, but they can also provide you with eggs if you know how to encourage that. While raising chickens may not be easy, we have a complete guide on how to raise them. The effort is definitely worth it.
What Age Of Chickens Should You Start With?
When considering pet chickens, the first question to ask is what age of chickens you want to start out with. There really are three options here – baby chicks, pullets, or adult chickens.
The biggest difference between the 3 is the time that you're able and willing to put into them. While baby chicks definitely take the most time and effort, they also give you back the most in terms of fulfillment and bonding. Depending on how young the chickens are, they may also require additional supplies like a heating element or even a smaller pen.
If you're most interested in having pet chickens for their ability to lay eggs, you may want to start with an adult chicken (or laying hen). Typically, these chickens are a year old or older. When you purchase a hen that is already laying eggs, the seller should be able to tell you how many eggs they usually lay, so that there are no surprises. They will tend to be more expensive, but they don't require all of the intensive care that baby chicks require.
An option in between baby chicks and adult chickens is purchasing them as pullets or at the "point of lay." These chickens are not quite yet laying eggs, which gives you enough time to really establish their pen and your relationship with them while not having to wait quite as long as you would with baby chicks.
Keep in mind that most chickens live anywhere from eight to ten years with appropriate care, so you'll have these pets in your life for years to come. They are a long-term investment, just like a dog or a cat.
In addition to deciding on the age of chicken that you want to start with, you'll also want to consider the breed. While most people think of chickens as those small, white birds running around the farmyard, there are actually a ton of different breeds that have vastly different appearances!
Plymouth Rocks are probably the most popular chicken breed and for a good reason. They come in various and unique colors and are one of the friendliest chickens out there. They tend to be calm and are prolific egg layers (laying around 280 eggs a year).
If you're looking for a "pretty" chicken, the Bantam Silkie (more commonly known as a Silkie) is the breed for you. These tiny chickens, weighing in at less than two pounds, are easy to handle and live up to their name thanks to their incredibly soft feathers. While they're not great egg layers, they are friendly pets that can safely be kept indoors. There are even harnesses made specifically for Silkies.
Tips For The Optimal Pet Chicken Enclosure
The best chicken enclosure includes both an indoor and an outdoor component. In general, pet chickens should live in an indoor enclosure like a coop. Pre-made coops are the best choice, as making your own can be difficult and expensive. They come in a huge variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, as well, or you can paint it on your own! The inside should be filled with nest boxes and perches where the chickens can sit or lay eggs.
Chickens should also have access to an outdoor area to run around in during the day. The outdoor space should be surrounded by chicken wire, which should be buried at least two feet deep to help keep predators out. You may also want to consider bird netting if your area is known to have predatory birds like hawks or eagles.
To get from the coop to the outdoor area, you'll want to have a ramp. That way, your chicken can easily go from indoors to outdoors without having to jump and potentially getting hurt. At night, you'll want to make sure that your pet chickens are safely in their enclosure to keep them safe.
As a general rule of thumb, aim for about three to five square feet of space for each chicken at a bare minimum. The amount of space you have also dictates the number of chickens that you can have.
The Supplies You Need Before Bringing Home Your Pet Chickens
In addition to making sure you have the right amount of space, there are a few supplies that you will also need to have before you bring your new pets home.
Obviously, your chicken needs somewhere for their food and water. Shallow water troughs are the best choice for this, as they are the easiest to access for your pets. In addition, feed dishes should be shallow as well.
You'll also want to cover the area with bedding, preferably straw. In the winter, you'll need more of it to help keep your chickens warm. You may also want to invest in a lamp for the inside of the enclosure, which can provide both heat and light during the winter months. This doesn't just keep your chickens warm; it also helps keep egg production happening all year long.
What Should You Feed Your Pet Chickens?
Chickens are fairly easy pets to feed because they are natural grazers. They like to pick at the ground to look for insects like slugs and grubs and even eat sand or dirt to help grind up food in their gizzards. Backyard pet chickens can also eat scraps from the household, but keep in mind that the foods that they eat strongly impact the taste of their eggs. So always stay away from garlic, onions, citrus fruits, beans, and raw potatoes, as many of those can be toxic.
Commercial feed should always be available to help supplement their diet and make sure that they're getting a nutritionally balanced diet. Pet chickens who don't eat a balanced diet are prone to various vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can lead to weakness, bone loss, and even death. A healthy adult hen should eat no more than ¼ pound of food a day. Commercial diets are generally made up of things like oats, corn, wheat, alfalfa meal, and barley. It is possible to make your own chicken feed, as well, but it's best for beginners to start with a pre-made mix made by professionals.
Veterinary Care For Pet Chickens
Chickens require veterinary care just like any other pet. They can develop health problems, like respiratory diseases, injuries to the feet, legs, or body, mites and lice on their feathers, and even intestinal parasites. If you have a flock, these diseases can spread pretty quickly as well. Always have any signs of disease evaluated by a veterinarian because medication may be needed to keep them healthy. In addition, annual checkups are strongly recommended.
In general, vaccines aren't necessary for pet chickens unless there are certain diseases prevalent in your area. Specifically, inoculations for Marek disease and Newcastle disease may be recommended, but your veterinarian should decide if that's necessary.
Ways To Keep Yourself Safe
Although the risk is minimal, especially if you take all of the recommended safety precautions, there is still the potential that you or your family can get sick from being around your pet chickens. Knowing the risks, and how to minimize them is essential.
For instance, make sure that you always wash your hands after you touch your chickens or anything in their enclosure, including their eggs. Hand sanitizer also works if soap and water are not available.
In addition, before eating any of the eggs that your pet chickens produce, make sure that you wash them. However, you won't want to wash them while they're still warm, as that can actually create more problems with bacteria. Once they're washed, store them in the refrigerator to minimize the risk of bacterial growth. You'll also want to make sure that you collect eggs as soon as you can after they're laid.
And finally, although chickens are usually fairly laid back, they can peck or scratch. Their beaks and talons are sharp, so always wash any injuries that have broken skin right away to prevent infection.
In Summary
Pet chickens are incredibly satisfying pets. They are sociable and fun, while also providing eggs for the household. They are also a great learning experience to help teach children responsibility! With the right size enclosure, and the knowledge of their nutritional needs, that we have provided, you should feel confident that you'll be able to successfully keep a flock of backyard chickens even if you have never tried to before.
Sources:
Physical Examination of Backyard Poultry – Exotic and Laboratory Animals | Merck Veterinary Manual
Vaccination of Backyard Poultry – Exotic and Laboratory Animals | Merk Veterinary Manual
Backyard Poultry | Healthy Pets, Healthy People | CDC
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