Pet Chickens
Keeping Pet Chickens May Be More Rewarding Than You Think
Any pet animal has its own special needs and presents its own special problems, and pet chickens are no exception. To have one or more of them around isn’t as strange as it might seem. People who have them say they make interesting and wonderful pets, and are not that hard to manage. You can keep a chicken in the house, although more than one might not be a good idea, or let them run in the back yard, or in a pen or chicken coop. If you do have a chicken in the house, and the Bantam is a good choice in this case, housebreaking is possible, though not necessarily easy. You're going to have to clean up a lot at first, and if your pet doesn't take to housebreaking, it’s either outside or more cleaning up.
The first thing you need to know about pet chickens is what breed you ought to get. When we see baby chicks at the farm or feed store, they at first seem rather "generic". The available breeds are likely fine for either meat or eggs, but will they be good pets? Some breeds make better pets than others. The Bantam, or Banty, is a fine choice, but you may want one of the bigger breeds. It depends on how much room you have, and whether you want eggs or not (Bantam eggs are fine but quite small). You're probably not thinking of meat for the table if you buy one or more chicks for a pet. Chickens can live quite long if well cared for, normally from 10 to 15 years.
In addition, if you live in the city, or the suburbs, you'll need to check with the local authorities to see if having a pet chicken is permitted in the first place. Some localities will not permit owning roosters (noise), or more than a certain number of hens. Also, there may be restrictions on how the chickens are to be housed, along with health and sanitation considerations. It's also good to know which sex you are getting. Hens are generally better. Roosters can be much more aggressive, besides being noisy. Also, if you have more than one rooster, they will fight if hens are present. A hen does not need the companionship of a rooster, and in fact, may be happier without one around. If you want a show breed as your pet, the chick will undoubtedly cost a bit more, perhaps a lot more.
Chicks are able to walk around and feed on their own soon after hatching. They need food, clean water, clean surroundings, and warmth. Don't make their water container too deep, or have one they can't get out of if they do fall in, which happens. They'll need a heat source, such as a lamp, for the first couple of months, but can go outside for short periods when one month old. Depending on how many chicks you have, a small enclosure or even a box will work for you at first. If you're getting a larger number, consider investing in a chick brooder. But since we're talking about pet chickens, we're probably talking about one or two only.
Chicks will let you know when they are distressed (cold or hungry), but give quieter peeps when content. Don't handle them at first, it will stress them. After a week or so you may be able to touch or begin hand feeding. Soon the chick will recognize your voice, and associate it with something good to eat, and you're on your way to owning a trusting pet. Most breeds will allow you to pet (stroke) them once they learn to trust you, though there may be some exceptions. Some breeds do not like to be picked up. If your pet chicken does allow you to pick it up, it's a good idea to keep it away from your face. Chickens do peck and do peck at eyes.
It's usually not a good idea to have a pet chicken if you have other pets around. Cats of course present a real threat to baby chicks, or small chickens. Dogs, coyotes, weasels, rats, and raccoons are always a threat to grown up chickens. It may be possible to train your dog to coexist with your chicken. You can probably tell from your dog's demeanor whether training would be needed or at all realistic.
Give the fully grown chicken pellets or mash in the mornings and a little grain in the afternoon. A self feeder may come in handy, or just throw it on the ground and let them scratch for it, which they generally enjoy doing. If it's safe for the chickens to free-range, they'll be a help in the garden, eating snails and insects, and spreading their own high quality fertilizer as well. The thought of having one or more pet chickens is not a strange one at all.