Cats don't lay eggs (Chickens)

Member Name: nicola21

Product:	Chickens
Date:	26/03/01 (1732 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Adorable pets

Disadvantages: none

When people think of chickens, the normal brown hen comes to mind. But there are so many other breeds of chicken out there, and they do make good pets.

Fancy bantams are the best type if you are looking to have chickens as pets. The range of species is extremely diverse. Private breeders will have many types for sale. These smaller bantams are much more docile, although all types of chicken are friendly and inquisitive.

I won't go into detail about all the different breeds because I could be here an awfully long time, and it wouldn't hold much general interest. However, over the years, I have been the proud owner of various types of bantam including the normal brown chooks.

Two of my favourite bantams are Poland hens, a breed which has a large plume of feathers sticking up above their heads, practically covering their eyes. They are gorgeous, come in all sorts of colours, and don't actually look like chickens. People have often asked - "What's that?!". My Poland hens, named Zinab and Whitney (don't ask!) are so friendly. I have had them since they were juvinile semi-fledglings, and from this young age, I taught them to come when they were called by their names, by training them to run up and down the garden to me. Here, I would just like to add, that we do not eat our chickens. They are solely pets, and when they get old they retire in peace.

They enjoy being cuddled just like a cat and wherever you are in the garden, they follow you. I've watched my chickies helping my Dad to dig the garden. They flocked around his feet digging in the trench with him. Yes, they dig up the flower borders occasionally, and sometimes poo on the garden paths! But it's nothing a rake and a hosepipe can't handle!

If I were to tell you all the instances where my pet chickens have brought me joy and happiness, I could be writing for days, but all I can say is chickens make great pets. They don't
peck you - which is a common misconception! They are friendly, quick to recognize the sound of your voice, great with children as they are docile and friendly, and fairly easy to maintain. As long as you provide an adequate home, secure environment, shut them in at night to avoid foxes getting to them, clean them regularly and feed and water them as you would an average pet, you'll be fine.

The real bonus is that they lay eggs usually on a daily basis. You'll never run out (depending on if you have more than two or three hens) and if you have an excess of eggs, you can sell them with a sign outside your house.

Sacks of chicken feed are not expensive, and if you decide to buy from a breeder, s/he will tell you more about them in general. Whether you decide to have normal brown chickens or fancy bantams, they all make great pets. Their average lifespan is about 8 years. Some die earlier, some live a lot longer. My Zinab is about 14 years old now and still going strong, but she's had a very good life.

Because of my love for chickens as pets, I do not eat chicken meat. I can't. I respect them too much. Most people laugh and say that chickens are only worth being eaten, but if you keep them as pets, you soon realise that they're not stupid, worthless birds. They are actually fairly instinctively intelligent. Groups of chickens work together to get what they want. They have so much character, I think they're all better than battery farms or slaughter houses. I feel proud to have saved a few from certain death by buying them as pets.

Anyhow, in conclusion, I believe that chickens are perfect pets. They're not indoor pets, but pets just the same, and they have the potential to bring a lot of love and happiness into people's lives.

Summary: