Do you like Chickens?

Bretrick

Bretrick

Well-known Member
Location
Perth Western Australia
Do you keep chickens for eggs or as pets?
When I lived on 5 acres I had a dozen Brown Layer Pullets

The chickens would roam around the acreage and come running when I called them.
I loved to watch the chickens being chickens.
When chickens start to feel a little bit dirty, they will dig a shallow ditch in dry, loose materials, dirt, sand etc in which they will burrow and throw the dirt over themselves.
They will do this until the dirt has coated their feathers and is settled down to their skin- where it is believed to absorb excess moisture and oil, and clog the breathing pores of parasites that may have found their way onto the chicken. They will then stand up and shake out all the dirt.
Then they proceed to preen themselves before getting on with their usual chicken business.
Chicken Dust Bathing
I got too close to one of my chickens once and she pecked my eyeball, Bruising it for a few days..
Each chook laid an egg a day so I gave most them to my neighbours.
 

To be fair to the animal, I wouldn't have one as a pet. I just don't know how to care for them and they can be noisy, messy and untrainable not to be - like a dog or cat could. Years ago, a cousin of mine decided to start an egg business, but his wife made him get rid of them because of the noise and smell.

This is my favorite way to have chicken:

chicken1.jpg
 
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yes I like them, altho' I can't eat a whole one at once.... :sneaky:


My neighbours' chickens

chickens-hens.jpg

spring-chickens-HD.jpg
 
My eldest brother worked at a farm in his teenage years..''killing chickens''... we all couldn't even speak about it...

of course we all know animals must be culled or killed if we eat meat.. but we really don't want to do it ourselves or know anyone who does it..
 
Bretrick said:
Do you keep chickens for eggs or as pets?
When I lived on 5 acres I had a dozen Brown Layer Pullets

The chickens would roam around the acreage and come running when I called them.
I loved to watch the chickens being chickens.
When chickens start to feel a little bit dirty, they will dig a shallow ditch in dry, loose materials, dirt, sand etc in which they will burrow and throw the dirt over themselves.
They will do this until the dirt has coated their feathers and is settled down to their skin- where it is believed to absorb excess moisture and oil, and clog the breathing pores of parasites that may have found their way onto the chicken. They will then stand up and shake out all the dirt.
Then they proceed to preen themselves before getting on with their usual chicken business.
Chicken Dust Bathing
I got too close to one of my chickens once and she pecked my eyeball, Bruising it for a few days..
Each chook laid an egg a day so I gave most them to my neighbours.
Click to expand...

I'm not as interested in all the eggs but I'd welcome chickens to give my herding dog an honest job to do. My contacts on ranches say "go watch the chickens" is the cure for restless energy.
 
Lil' Red and Nikita, they were the best of friends. Nikita protected her when they were outside. I had her for about 5 years and she lived in a dog kennel I kept in my kitchen. During the day she would be outside with Nikita and the cats until it was time to lay an egg. She would be at the door and go right into her kennel in a box that I kept in there for her to sleep in. Lay the egg then squawk to go outside again. Very hungry after laying her X-Jumbo egg!
lil_red0.jpg
 
katlupe said:
@CathyHorn has a pet chicken. Show us your pictures!
Click to expand...
I've had chickens for the past 25 years. I enjoy them very much. I have one who lives in the house, Hunny, she's 6 years old. She's as smart as any dog I've ever known, and she's very affectionate. 2 of my hens hatched chicks a couple of days ago. Since I've retired and no longer drive to the city almost daily, I no longer have egg customers. All my extra eggs are donated to our small towns food pantry.
 
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