Do you want to have pets but don’t want the challenge of caring for dogs or cats? Why not get yourself a flock of chickens?
Wait, can chickens even be kept as pets?
This may surprise you, but yes, you can keep chickens as pets. In fact, thanks to their unique qualities – such as their fascinating personalities, egg-laying ability, and inclination toward helping you out in the garden – these birds can make exceptional pets. If you’d like to know why, keep reading!
10 Reasons Why Chickens Make Great Pets
So why do chickens make great pets? Let’s find out!
1. They’re convenient to take care of
Chickens are low-maintenance pets. You don’t need to walk them, play games with them, or bring them to pet-friendly locations to make them happy. You don’t even need to groom them unless that’s your thing or you plan on entering them in a poultry exhibition. Sure, they can become a little destructive if neglected, but in general, you can leave them alone in the backyard without having to worry about them tearing up the place due to boredom or loneliness.
In addition, chickens don’t need to be fed twice daily as long as you invest in automatic feeders and waterers, which can be refilled around once a week.
These birds are also cheaper to take care of. While you’ll need professional aid to ensure your chickens enjoy great health, the veterinary care of these animals is far cheaper than that of a dog or a cat. Also, keep in mind that the money you make selling chicken eggs can further lower the costs of caring for them.
2. They have great personalities
Like people, dogs, and other bigger-brained creatures, chickens have unique personalities, quirks, likes, and dislikes. One chicken, for example, may enjoy strutting around showing off its colorful feathers, while another may have a habit of snooping on its neighbors.
These personalities allow chickens to form lasting friendships with one another and even their owners. They can also change their behavior depending on the individuals around them. For example, they’ll prefer hanging out with their favorite friends, and they’ll be affectionate toward you if you’re good to them.
With so many interesting personalities in a single flock, you can expect fun and fascinating interactions among your feathery friends – not to mention you’ll have a lot of fun interacting with them!
3. They can teach children valuable lessons
Is your house home to a couple of kids? If so, keeping a flock of pet chickens can be an educational experience for them.
For starters, chickens can teach youths about animals and how to take care of them. Where do eggs come from? How often should chickens be fed per day? Are chickens really related to T-Rexes and velociraptors? Raising chickens will encourage a child to ask these questions and more, therefore allowing them to learn new things about the world and the creatures we share it with.
Keeping pet chickens can also teach children about responsibility and the importance of hard work. Taking great care of chickens is immediately rewarding – not only do they regularly give you eggs but also lots of entertainment and affection. Once a child learns how their efforts can result in huge benefits, they’ll be motivated to work, while the rewards they receive due to their endeavors can boost their confidence in themselves.
Raising chickens can also teach children about how valuable life is.
4. They provide a limitless supply of eggs
As long as you have healthy hens, you’ll never run out of eggs.
Yes, you read that right – a female chicken doesn’t need to mate with a male chicken to lay eggs. In the absence of a male, a hen lays an infertile egg that doesn’t develop into a chick.
As long as the weather isn’t too cold, a healthy hen can lay an egg almost every day. That’s a lot of eggs!
You can then eat these eggs. Take note that freshly laid eggs are not only more delicious but also healthier, thanks to containing higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. They’re also lower in cholesterol and saturated fat.
Alternatively, you can sell the eggs. Either way, you get a tangible reward for the small effort of raising a flock of pet chickens.
5. They can help you cut down on your food waste
Instead of chucking your food scraps or unwanted edibles in the garbage, you can feed them to your army of chickens, who’ll be more than happy to make them disappear. You don’t have to worry about wasting your food when your pets can eat them and turn them into fertilizer!
In general, chickens can eat a rich variety of food, from vegetables to meat. However, you should still familiarize yourself with what they can and can’t eat. For example, it’s a bad idea to feed them foods that are too spicy, sweet, or salty; moldy or rotten; or toxic to their species, such as garlic, onion, and chocolate. You should also avoid giving them uncooked eggs.
6. They can help fertilize your garden
You can use chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers to boost the health of the plants in your garden. Unfortunately, such substances are potentially harmful to you, your pets, and the environment. Not to mention you’re going to lose cash purchasing such chemicals.
Thankfully, there’s a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative to chemicals: chicken poop!
If you own a flock of chickens, know that their manure can serve as an excellent fertilizer for your garden. Sure, there are a few things to figure out before you can properly use chicken feces to nourish your plants, but this technique is much safer and cheaper than using chemicals.
7. They can get rid of pests
Chickens can provide your garden with low-cost pest control.
These birds eat various pests that can damage your garden, such as worms, beetles, grasshoppers, earwigs, ticks, grubs, and spiders. They even consume small rodents and snakes! None of this requires training, by the way; thanks to instinct, chickens naturally hunt down these pests for food.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about your chickens bringing their kills indoors, so that’s less of a mess for you to clean up!
8. They can clean your garden
Do you have a big vegetable garden? Then you already know how challenging it is to clean it up after the growing season. There are weeds to pull, plant matter to remove, and so many other backbreaking chores to complete to get your garden back into shape.
Fortunately, chickens can help with these tasks. As they enjoy eating grass, they’ll get rid of the weeds and other unwanted plant matter in your garden, making your work easier. They also like clearing the compost bin of bugs and microorganisms, then aerating the pile. Their activities can even assist you when it comes to tilling the soil.
Think of your chickens as your tireless helpers in the garden!
9. They allow you to have more control over your food
We can get food from just about anywhere – the closest convenience store, the local grocery, the supermarket, and a whole bunch of eateries from fine dining restaurants to fast food vendors.
Here’s the thing: we’re rarely certain where this food comes from. Most of the time, we don’t know if what we eat has been laced with chemicals, genetically modified, or artificially treated using some other means. Some of these edibles are no longer fresh by the time they reach our plates. In other words, a lot of what we eat isn’t 100% suitable for human consumption.
When you raise chickens, however, you can have a daily dose of completely fresh, naturally made eggs. You know what you’re eating is healthy. You can also guarantee that the eggs don’t come from chickens that were raised unethically or exposed to chemicals throughout their lives.
And because these eggs aren’t bought from a store, you don’t have to worry about throwing away plastic bags, Styrofoam containers, or other types of items that can contribute to environmental degradation.
10. There are no restrictions on chicken ownership
In the U.S., no laws exist that prohibit the ownership of chickens. This means that whether you live in Florida or Washington, Arizona or Maine, you can keep chickens as pets.
Of course, it’s best to consult your landlord, examine your property deeds, and familiarize yourself with your area’s zoning laws to ensure there aren’t any covenants forbidding the keeping of livestock. Depending on your location, you may be allowed to keep only a specific number of birds. Other regions ban the ownership of roosters. Most regulations, however, allow people to raise their own backyard chickens.
6 Factors to Consider Before Getting Pet Chickens
It’s always helpful to consider existing information before making a decision – and buying a flock of chickens to keep as pets isn’t any different. We highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the details below if you’re thinking of having pet chickens.
Chickens like being around other chickens; without others of its kind to call friends, an individual can become lonely, bored, and upset. Any animal suffering from poor mental health can end up developing physical illnesses and undesirable behaviors leading to property damage.
Therefore, your best bet is to have at least six chickens instead of just one.
2. Some chicken breeds are better than others
Like dogs and cats, chickens come in a variety of breeds – and some of them make great pets, while others don’t.
Below are examples of chicken breeds that make amazing pets.
- Australorps: these excellent egg layers are beautiful and good with kids.
- Barred Plymouth Rocks: friendly, calm, and beautiful, these birds lay tons of eggs per year.
- Cochins: these are small, low-maintenance chickens that are fine with confinement.
- Orpingtons: these great egg layers are affectionate and enjoy being held.
- Polish: while not the best egg layers, they’re gentle and boast a fascinating appearance.
- Silkies: they’re cute, cuddly, and affectionate, but they’re not the best egg layers.
- Wyandotte: these birds are gentle, do well in confinement, and have great personalities.
Make sure to pick the right chickens for your specific needs!
3. Chickens do better in a yard
Chickens prefer being outdoors and having a space to roam around in. Therefore, it’s better to keep them in the backyard or any exterior location with a fence or other barrier. You should also provide them with a chicken coop, which can help them feel safe and protect them against predators and inclement weather.
Another reason chickens are better off staying out in the open is that they’re difficult to house train. Chickens poop often, which can quickly turn a clean, beautiful house into a stinky, filthy one.
4. You need a poultry veterinarian
Many veterinarians who treat dogs and cats aren’t qualified to treat a chicken. Therefore, before you purchase chickens to keep as pets, make sure you know at least one or two veterinarians who are knowledgeable, trained, and experienced in the care of chickens.
5. Some chickens carry salmonella
Some chickens carry a harmful bacteria known as salmonella, which, when passed on to humans, can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, abdominal cramps, and headaches. For this reason, you should wash your hands thoroughly after touching chickens or cleaning their coop.
6. Your dog or cat might not get along well with chickens
Predatory animals such as dogs and cats may see chickens as prey animals – that is, animals that are meant to be hunted and killed. Think twice about bringing home some chickens if you have dogs or cats. And even if such pets are gentle with other critters, be careful when introducing chickens to them.
Conclusion
Chickens can make excellent pets. They’re low-maintenance animals with unique personalities. They supply you with plenty of eggs that you can eat or sell. Among many other things, they also provide valuable assistance in the garden.
Of course, it’s crucial to consider several factors before getting yourself a few chickens to keep as pets. Therefore, familiarize yourself with their needs and determine what you can do to ensure their health and safety. Only then can you be sure your feathery friends can stay happy and healthy with you!