did you ever have chicks of a hen as pets???

Question

i think they'r really cute.....so just wanted to know....

Answer 1

Chickens make GREAT pets! I have had chickens as pets for about 30 years now. Yes, when they are small they do require additional care, mostly keeping them warm, as they eat and drink by themselves from the start. If they are handled as babies gently and often they become very trustworthy adults. I will say the hens make superior pets, roosters sometimes become very nasty and mean. One of my pet roosters, a black Old English bantam, grew up to terrorize the entire family. He would chase my poor sister around the back yard and keep her trapped on the slide of our swing set! We had to get rid of him. Another of my pet chickens used to fly onto my shoulder and ride around like a pirates' parrot! Right now my married daughter has three pet Black Star hens. They come running to her and sit on her lap to be petted. The best thing about pet chickens is that my pet makes my breakfast!

For more info on pet chickens look up these three sites:

http://www.backyardchickens.com
http://www.ubuilderplans.com
http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/index.html

Answer 2

They are very cute for about the first week... After that, the chicks my in-laws had would "cheep" for affection and when you picked them up, they would poop all over you (watch out if you see one of their legs stretch behind them - that's a key signal they're about the unload on you!). If you're keeping them strictly outside, they can be fun at times, but they can also be a pain and they breed like crazy. My in-laws went from 3 hens and 2 roosters to 26 roosters and 14 hens in a matter of months. A hen would disappear and they'd assume a racoon got her, then she'd show up with her chicks. There was an insane amount of crowing at all hours and their courtyard was a mess with all the digging and pooping. Make sure you're a fan of chickens and roosters before you get a chick (or more than one) as a pet... The cuteness fades VERY quickly!

Answer 3

So long as you realise that they're pretty much newborn babys. They need round the clock care, I raise chicks and get up at 2am every night to make sure they're all ok, if one looks ill it has to be quarantined, cared for, and treated, sometimes I don't get back to bed until 6am, then I'm up at 8am for another check. They need expensive equipment, a brooder, heating, lights, non slip floor sheet, special food ground small enough for them. It's a lot of work and they only stay chicks for 6 weeks. I strongly suggest you just buy hens if you want some.

Answer 4

I grew up at my grandma's farm and I loved hanging around the hens and roosters. I was also in charge of bringing the eggs to my grandma and I got bit so many times by the roosters. I then went for the eggs at night, since they cant see,lol. Well she had so many animals, pigs, geese,cats,chicks, rabbits, and many little birds. It was the best years of my life.^_^. Well I have many animals at the moment, two love birds, two turtle, and they layed eggs so i will be having more soon. Also I have 3 kittens and 5 dogs. Im a animal lover,haha

Answer 5

I had chicks in my classroom one year and I found them really adorable... they make lots of noise and poop a lot, but are really worth it. But.....they grow into full size chickens.... so don't get baby chicks unless you're prepared to take care of some full size chickens for the next 5 years. We now have 2 chickens..... they really poop a lot.... we keep them in a cute little coop in the backyard..... but they need attention every day. Agway is a good place to get supplies. If you have roosters, be prepared to have annoyed neighbors.... MIKAL, age 10 1/2.

Answer 6

i think they make great pets, but the roosters can be a little harder to tame than the hens.

Answer 7

i live on a farm and we have chickens and my daughter play with them..we have had no problems except for one rooster..that would spur everyone but we gave him away..but we have about 100 chickens and my girls love them