Chickens are typically farm based animals,
so are used to a lot of space, and in general, company of similar
animals. If you can't offer a large open, but fenced area, with a secure
caging area within, then chickens might not be the right pets for you.
Of course if you live in the country, it's possible to enjoy keeping a
whole flock of hens, which will ensure you a steady supply of eggs, and
lots of manure for the garden too.
Scientific Information
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Genus:
Gallus
Class:
Aves
Order:
Galliformes
Species:
Gallus gallus
Family:
Phasianidae
If you want to have chickens as pets
you need to keep few things in mind. There are many different
types of hens in the market. But, the best which can be
considered as pets would be bantam hens, and the silky bantam
hens. They lay eggs with a pretty, pale green shell. They can be
quiet and generous pets even for your children. Other hens are
quite larger and heavier than bantams, and come in variety of
colors; black, brown, white, etc There are a few things to
consider before embarking on your quest to keep a chicken as a
pet. Having a pet doesn't just affect you as the owner, but it
also affects people that live with you, as well as your
visitors. There are a surprising number of people who have a
frantic phobia of birds in general, so don't expect those
individuals to be visiting upon the arrival of your new pet.You
might be a believer in the bird flu epidemic or similar, you
need to realize that they may be carrying infectious diseases,
although it is highly unlikely
You will
need to feed your hens a proprietary pelleted feed, which can be organic
if you choose, but if not, then be sure to select one that's suitable
for free-range birds. This feed will ensure they receive their essential
nutrients, vitamins and minerals, but you should also scatter grain on
the ground to encourage them to begin to scratch, forage and range more
widely. You should also provide poultry grit which helps break down the
grain in the hen's gizzard. They will also enjoy kitchen scraps, but
don't give them any meat, or scraps that are too salty. Fresh, clean
water should always be readily available, and place it in the shade as
hens don't like drinking warm water. And don't forget to shut them
safely away from any predators at bedtime
