Dinkychick Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Do you let your chickens in the house? How hygenic is that? Can you toilet train a chicken? Does your chuck act like any of your other pets? My chucks wander into the kitchen thru the back door now and again as they think im making them something tasty But today i was in the front room, and when i looked up all 3 chucks were sat down on the rug by the kitchen/front room door having a preen! I dont mind the feathers on the floor.... just not pooh eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 nope! Mine are 'garden pets', unlike the cat who is a member of the household. It's not possible to toilet-train a chicken, and there's no way I am going to clean THAT off the floor! To be honest I don't 'pet' mine as such, they are still not keen on being handled and so I tend to only pick them up for health checks. They do have individual personalities, they are great fun to watch but I definitely don't regard them in the same way as I do the cat. And they are not allowed in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyReckless Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 They are very much pets - given names and treats, picked up and stroked and patted. They are outside pets and never brought into the house, but that doesn't make then any less pets. People have rabbits and guinea pigs as pets who live outside, so why not hens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 They are very much pets - given names and treats, picked up and stroked and patted. They are outside pets and never brought into the house, but that doesn't make then any less pets. Ditto to the above. Much as I love them......no way am I having a pooing machine in my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 I am sure I have shown this before - only in America Chicken nappies! http://www.mypetchicken.com/Diapers___Saddles-Chicken_Diapers-P352.aspx Mine are garden pets - not to come inside. If the patio door is left open they jump up on the door step - once we were inside eating and nutmeg jumped straight up on to the table - straight outside with her! Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Mine used to get brought into the house (we were lucky to have no accidents) but the novelty's worn off for the kids and they stay outside now. They can't wander in as there's a gate in their way. They are pets in that I talk to them and pick them up quite often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleredhen Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 We have 6 'big girls' who do not come into the house and are not really pets, although they all have names, and we have 2 little bantams who do come into the house whenever they get chance and are very much pets. They enjoy being cuddled and carried round unlike the others who just tolerate being picked up. I must admit I don't find it particularly unhygienic to have them in the house, any little accidents can soon be picked up (luckily we have wooden floors and tiles, a carpet would be a different matter). A friend of mine bottle fed an orphan lamb this spring and she still comes into the house now! I think I would draw the line at that though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 My girls are very much pets. They do come into the house given half a chance, but are quickly shown the door again We have wooden floors, and they like to bask in the sun under the kitchen table Once they're spotted, though, they're out! They have learnt the art of stealth... I stroke them and pick them up regularly, as I want them to be tame. Love my chooks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Mine are first and foremost pets, and are stroked, talked to picked up (if they don't run away fast enough) etc. They are also experts at scrounging! They only get inside when I have been careless and not shut the baby gate. I do have hard floors in about 60% of the place, but still don't really want to clean up the poo or, worse still, tread in it with bare feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happybunny Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 My bantams are definitely pets. The hens don't really come into the house - too timid - but my cockerel, Cheep, was hand reared and he comes in at every opportunity! He likes to sit on the furniture and crow, is happy to be cuddled or will sit on your lap (he likes his wattles stroked!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Mine are outdoor pets, they _always_ poo if they sneak into the house so are always swiftly ejected! I chat to them but rarely pick them up as they don't really like it (I hate the way they cower as if they put up with me touching them if they must!). TBH I don't get a lot out of cuddling them either - it's not like stroking a cat or a dog. I do like the way they rush over to the (closed) patio door if they see me inside and how they like to stand there and preen or nap. I'm sure it's only cupboard love though! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygal Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Mine are definitely pets but outside pets. When I get home I go straight out to see them, give them some treats, have a chat... yes they do try to come in the house, but they always give themselves away by clucking- if they were quiet they might get a chance to explore a bit more! Friends and family are surprised at how fun they can be and how individual each hen is. I love my chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Mine are most certainly pets - we also have a cat and a dog and the chickens are no different....infact i think they are probably even more spoilt. We have patio doors leading into our kitchen which has a tiled floor, i am more than happy for them to come in, as long as you clean any mess away and spray a bit of disinfectant they can do no harm - they have never made any attempt to jump up on the surfaces or anything like that. We have a dog gate that leads in to the rest of the house - they have occassionally escaped through when somebody left it open or something but they don't venture far....the cat food is usually the first stop. I really wish i could litter train mine, as would love for them to come in and sit on the sofa with us, etc. I would happily let them indoors all the time if i could control their pooping!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 aww those chicken nappies are just so funny! Have you seen these chicken clothes? i cant find the site now so thats just a pic...maybe those could work if you wanted to let your chucks in the house. Mine still like venturing into the kitchen and sitting on the mat, and as long as they are just leaving their footprints then i think ill let them, after all i have a kid who is far more messy lol, pretty sure cat and dog feet are just as dirty, and like someone said disinfectant for little accidents on the lino. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 (edited) mine are definitely pets - I talk to them, cuddle them all the time. They are allowed in the house downstairs except when I have just cleaned; and upstairs sometimes when I am in a benevolent mood and decide their antics are worth the cleaning up afterwards Edited September 8, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 After the poop i had deposited on the door mat today i dont know if i trust the chucks to come in the house after eating banana the day before! hehehe, yay for cleaning products eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
