What do you think of when you think of a pet? A dog or cat, perhaps, or maybe some kind of rodent. It could be a fish or if you prefer the exotic, reptiles. Yet what most people don’t think of is chickens. This is a shame because chickens make the most amazing pets. Read on to find out why this is so that, when you start to consider just what kind of pet would make your family complete, chickens don’t get forgotten.
They Have Personalities
Ask anyone who has ever had a chicken or chickens in their home or garden, and they’ll tell you they each have their own distinct personality. If your only experience of chickens is seeing them in a farmyard, probably from a distance, then this might sound rather strange, but it’s true; just like dogs and cats, chickens are all different. Some are friendlier than others, some like to play, and some are very lazy.
When you own a chicken, you’ll soon get to know just what personality your pet has and how to interact with them because of it. This makes owning a chicken an absolute joy, especially when they recognise you and even run towards you because they’re glad to see you.
Fresh Eggs
There is no denying the fact that chickens are useful creatures, as well as being extremely cute and having some truly wonderful traits. They will give you fresh eggs, and once you have eaten eggs that have been freshly laid, you’ll realise what a difference that makes to the taste, texture, and nutrition compared to eggs that are weeks old from the supermarket.
Most chickens will lay one egg per day, with a rest day, which means one chicken should produce around six eggs a week. It might be more, it might be less, but this is the average. Of course, the more chickens you have, the more eggs you’ll have, and there is nothing quite like collecting your own fresh eggs every morning and enjoying them for your breakfast.
They Are Easy To Care For
Chickens really don’t need very much in their lives; they are simple creatures. You might choose to have yours living in your home, but they are hard to toilet train, so it’s often best to house them outside. You can speak to an expert to create a beautiful area for them that doesn’t look out of place with the rest of the garden and that they can scratch around into their heart’s content.
Make sure that they have somewhere warm and safe to be at night; the cold can kill them if they’re not protected, and so can foxes and other creatures. Then all you’ll need to do is ensure they have a supply of freshwater, they have enough food each day (this is as easy as throwing a handful of grain and poultry grit on the ground), and they’re tucked in at night. Of course, if you have a playful or friendly chicken, you’ll want to interact with them too.
Last Updated on June 30, 2023 by Lucy Clarke