pet chicken?

Question

i got it 4 x-mas, didnt like it at 1st but now i like the little guy, what do they eat i have been feeding it breed and rice and bird seed i bought but it getting slimmer its still young what do they eat

btw i live in the city

Answer 1

if you go up to a hardware store or a pet store, they should have chicken feed. that is what they need or else their digestive system will pretty much crash. if you can't find any in your area, you can order it online.

http://www.lionsgrip.com/chickens.html
http://www.plamondon.com/faq_feed.html
http://www.shopping.com/xGS-Organic_Chicken_Feed

i hope i was of help to you. good luck

Answer 2

First off...be sure you can legally have a pet chicken inside your city's limits. You may have to get a permit &/or meet specific requirements. I lost one of my first flocks to busy body neighbors before I knew about the city ordinances. If you are legally able to have them, sometimes sharing eggs can help foster friendly neighbors. ;)

Second... Baby chickens do not do well without companionship from other baby chickens. You need a minimum of 3-6 chicks. *I liked to buy my chicks from Murray McMurray Hatcheries... but they will not sell in smaller quantities than is healthy for the chicks.

Third... you need to get proper chicken feed. What variety of feed depends on the age & type of bird you have and what you intend it for. IE: a laying hen needs different feed than a broiler. Giving your pet kitchen scraps is not entirely bad... but just like with any other pet, it is not a healthy primary feed.

Fourth... even a pet bird will benefit from good vet check ups. Chickens can get parasites, mites, respiratory conditions, and various other injuries.


In direct answer to your question: Chickens eat the seed whole = bird seed like you get for house birds is not going to be properly digested. My birds got specific feed for their variety and purpose; the chicks got chick feed according to their variety, the hens got layeena, the broilers got a feed formula for quick weight gain, etc. My hens enjoyed oats in the summer and corn in the winter, in addition to their regular feed. The layers also had a steady supply of oyster shell. The water was treated regularly to control disease.

Answer 3

You need to make sure it gets a balance of fats, proteins and crude carbohydrates.

Until you can get a proper food for it, make sure you give it plenty of water and just about anything you would eat so it can at least get the nutrition to survive until the chicken mash arrives. Just make sure whatever you offer is small enough that it won't choke on it.

Corn meal is a good supplement too...oatmeal...even mashed potatoes. They'll even eat meats...once again in tiny pieces.

But make sure you DO go get proper food...a chicken can't live healthy off of table scraps alone!

(although they do enjoy a handout and will learn to beg!!)

Answer 4

Hi BiGbOi, Chickens need chicken feed. Find a feed store or order some online. He probably won't be very happy in the city, and neither will you. Try these pages for more info: http://www.lionsgrip.com/chickens.html and http://www.plamondon.com/faq_feed.html He needs some corn in his diet and fresh water at all times.

Answer 5

Chicken feed, definatly, but getting it in a big city is going to be difficult. It is mostly corn. He really needs some yard to roam in, even just a little.

Have you noticed yet how much their poop stinks? Not the typical dog poop smell, but the amonia reek that most birds have. If you haven't you will.

Answer 6

I'm not sure how to care properly for a chicken, speciallly in the city. When I was little I received two chicks for Easter, they were so much fun. Granted I lived in Puerto Rico so it's more common and my mom cared for them... until one day they were gone. I know realized we ate them.

"lionsgrip" seems to have a lot of info on chicken feed and chickens in general. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Answer 7

DON'T FEED IT RICE!!! Rice will swell up and plug it's pooper- bread is ok but it needs a balenced diet- with bugs and grubs as for snacks!