brizee Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 (edited) Hi Everyone, Please excuse me but i am about to ask a seriously daft question. As a new chick owner (since December) I have got myself and the family completely hooked on chicken ownership to the point where I have been reading everyones blogs, learning about breeds and looking at everyones pictures. So here goes, please forgive me. How does everyone who lets their chicks indoors keep such clean carpets? My chicks dig up my flower beds and have feet thick with soil in this wintery weather. And then theres the poop. I had no idea how much they would produce and with no regard to where and when it happens. The family really want them sat infront of the telly with them and free ranging the house, but i just can't bring myself to let them cross the threshold. So please enlighten me to your secrets of potty training your chicks. Once again my apologies for a stupid question, but if you don't ask, you'll never know. Edited February 6, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 You can't potty train them, sadly. I only have mine indoors if they're ill or when they're bathed. Oh, I also have wooden floors > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadAboutChooks Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hi ya, dont believe you can potty train them. Mine do pop in occasionally but only to steal grapes from my fruit bowl!! they dont usually stay indoors long!. I have laminate and tiled flooring over 90% of the downstairs so not too worried by the odd accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brizee Posted February 5, 2011 Author Share Posted February 5, 2011 I'll be honest, It was you rug that prompted the question. Beautiful chicks by the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Those pics were taken literally minutes after they arrived, and they were back in their cage minutes later They did poop, but luckily relatively dry ones and on the wooden floor. They were laydeees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Chickens are outdoors only in my house, unless very poorly, I love them dearly but they are animals and my house offers nothing compared to a flower bed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 It's not a daft question at all. I have often seen pics of girls inside the house too and wondered how people managed. A couple of our ex batts like to come indoors if they are let out into the garden to FR, but we don't let them get further than the conservatory as I don't think I could handle poop on the carpets. I have to say they poop quite a lot don't they and it's quite large when they do one too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brizee Posted February 5, 2011 Author Share Posted February 5, 2011 So potty training is out of the question. It's either rip up the carpet or follow them round with a jay cloth. Maybe for now they can have the garden, unless they are sick. I'll resist the peer pressure here. Although I can see the other half already trying to pick the corner of the carpet up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 chicken diapers chicken nappies P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Sorry, I've never understood this either! My hens are strictly outdoors only. I don't allow them into the house, unless they are very ill in which case they're in a cat basket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 If I bring mine in to wash or greet (annoy) OH they get carried around with a towel under the bum. I do put them down on the kitchen floor to eat the cat's food but it's rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Mine never come indoors either unless they are at death's door, and then they are in a pet carrier in the porch. Chickens aren't indoor pets in my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Any hint of an open door in our house and the chickens sneak in just to poo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill the potter Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 chicken diaperschicken nappies P These are soooooo wrong (also did anyone notice the images were not only of chickens?!?!?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 My dottes are brought indoors for show preparation and when they are being manicured they lay on my lap on a towel and watch the telly upside down I let my cock bird Tarzan roam the worktops when he comes in for his bath, he likes to roost on the breadbin while waiting his turn in the sink If you are at my house dont ask for a sandwich, we believe in natural resistance to bacteria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Chuck Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 If I lived nearer to you I'd order a bacon sandwich. I have a good immunity to chook germs. Don't tell anyone but during the two cold snaps in December my 4 bantams and Connie (Light Sussex) lived in the kitchen for a few days each time and they all piled into a low trugtubs (filled with straw) in my broom cupboard each night. I've been wanting to 'confess' ever since then. My family think I'm a little cracked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Mine set up shop in the conservatory for over a week over Christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Wow, you lot are brave! (or stupid... ) I wouldn't dare let my chooks in my house, I just know there would be curry poos all over the place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 My dottes are brought indoors for show preparation and when they are being manicured they lay on my lap on a towel and watch the telly upside downI let my cock bird Tarzan roam the worktops when he comes in for his bath, he likes to roost on the breadbin while waiting his turn in the sink If you are at my house dont ask for a sandwich, we believe in natural resistance to bacteria I love that, i take it their fave progs are Easthenders, Eggheads or Hollyolks I'll get my coat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 we have a mat by the door, so when they come in, they have to stay on there. we also give them treats to keep them 'occupied'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 I vaguely remember reading about a lady who kept a lone hen indoors. I think it slept in the bath My little serama are now happily relocated to the garage where they are busy slinging wood shavings all over the place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Mine never come indoors but with three large dogs I think they are a lot safer outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickybaby Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 I used to have a chicken that came indoors. She hardly ever poo'd and when she did she managed to do it on the tiled kitchen floor so it was easy to pick up. She'd wander in, sit on the back of the settee or go upstairs and get on the bed. Many an evening she'd be watching tv with us! She was definately one in a million and sadly is no longer with me. Out of the 13 chickens I've had/currently have she was the only one that was 'sort of' potty trained but that was all down to herself. The rest just come in and poop anywhere so they are definately 'outdoor' chickens although they do try and sneak in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Ours don't come in the house during the day, I'd like it if they did but we have a large dog. I would trust him not to intentionally hurt the girls but he has stood on us, rammed us with his head, wacked us with a paw. It hurts us so I wouldn't risk him with the girls and they don't have physical contact. We have dreadful fireworks round here so they do come in then in their carriersovernight and when it is very cold. We got some new ex-bats early December. The plan was for them to be outside in the day and inside at night till they feathered up a bit. The first day I put them in their coop I checked on them half an hour later and they were sat in there shivering. Off to PAH to buy a pet play pen and they lived in our spare room for well over a week. I put down a waterproof picnic mat and loads of newspaper and the carpet survived. The old girls also came in during the day when it hit -8 during the day. They looked so miserable out there I had to give them a bit of respite from the cold. Because we were still keeping the two flocks totally separate the old girls ended up in the kitchen. Fortunatley we had no vistors at the time because even we noticed the chicken smell when we walked through the front door and we are used to them. The ex batts had no problems being indoors as they just liked being able to move about. The old girls found it quite boring I think with nothing to scratch in. Mind you, outside was so frozen they couldn't scratch there either so at least they were warm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
