Over the last decade, chickens have become more popular - not only as a source of home-grown eggs, but also as house pets. All chickens belong to the species Gallus gallus. There are hundreds of chicken breeds across the world, but only 65 breeds are recognized by the American Poultry Association.
Chickens are fun, playful, friendly small pets, given the right environment, and they can be very enjoyable outdoors or indoors. Like all small pets, chickens require the proper diet, protection from predators, and room to move around. Since chickens prefer a roost or perch for resting or sleeping, it is recommended to give them a perch that is firm, stable, and elevated off the ground. (Photo at right courtesy of Gregory Rich, DVM.)
Diet
There are several commercial chicken diets available at pet stores, feed and seed stores, or online stores. Baby chicks should eat a “start and grow” ration for the first 20 weeks of life. Adult chickens must be on a maintenance ration. Laying chickens require diets made for their extra protein and calcium needs. Layer diets are typically 16% protein and 3.5-5% calcium. Fresh water and clean food and water bowls are a must.
Many chickens love fresh produce such as corn, tomatoes, or leafy greens. Leafy greens such as lettuces, spinach, kale, and escarole make a nice supplement to a pelleted ration and can be offered regularly. Other vegetables can be offered as well, but should not exceed 5% of the daily diet.
"Limit fruits, scratch, and dried meal worms to small amounts, as they are not nutritionally balanced foods."
Limit fruits, scratch, and dried meal worms to small amounts, as they are not nutritionally balanced foods. Do not feed your chickens highly salted foods, chocolate, avocado, alcohol, or caffeine, as these foods can make your bird ill.
Chicken feed should be stored in a cool, dry location. Make sure the container is protected from insects and rodents. The diet you purchase should be in its original bag/container and not scooped from a food bin.
Outdoor Chickens
Building a chicken coop requires planning, space, and the proper materials. There are several online sources for layouts and building plans for a chicken coop. A good starting place is www.thehappychickencoop.com and www.mypetchicken.com.
The materials you use should be non-toxic and sturdy to combat the types of weather in your location. It is critical that your coop provides protection from predators (e.g., dogs, cats, raccoons, hawks, coyotes, and foxes).
Food and water should be placed off the ground to prevent consumption or contamination by invading insects and/or rodents. Fresh water should be provided daily. Food and water bowls should be washed out daily.
Chickens and roosters like to graze and forage for food on the ground, so be sure to keep them away from chemicals, fertilizers, and small, shiny metal objects.
If you plan to have a rooster with your flock, be sure to check with your local ordinances about rules around owning a rooster. If roosters are allowed, you typically only need 1 rooster for every 8–10 hens. Roosters are fun to watch but can be very noisy. More than one rooster on the property will usually cause territorial skirmishes.
Vaccinations
The following vaccination protocols are recommended for “backyard”/non-commercial chickens:
- Marek's disease: Vaccination is recommended for all chickens at one day of age or in ovo (in egg).
- Fowl pox: Vaccination is recommended if there is a historic problem with the flock. You can vaccinate in the face of an outbreak. Fowl pox is a reportable disease in many states. Wing web vaccination is recommended at 12–16 weeks (before egg production occurs, since the vaccine will cause a decrease in egg production and hatchability).
Other diseases and vaccines include:
- Newcastle disease (not virulent ND): Vaccination is commonly used in commercial poultry, but generally not used in backyard poultry.
- Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT): LLT is a live vaccine, so it is generally not recommended for backyard poultry, since it can spread virus to non-vaccinated chickens and infect them.
- Lymphoid leukosis: Vaccination is not available. The virus is transmitted vertically (from hen to eggs), so to stop its spread, you must eradicate positive cases.
- Mycoplasma: There is no vaccine available.
- Infectious coryza: Vaccination is not recommended for backyard poultry. This live vaccine can spread to non-vaccinated chickens. In the US, permission is needed from the state veterinarian to vaccinate commercial birds.
Healthcare
- All chickens should be vaccinated against Marek's Disease Virus on day 1.
- A fecal analysis to check for intestinal parasites is recommended on a yearly basis.
- The bottoms of your chicken's feet should be checked weekly to monthly to look for pressure sores or swellings.
- It is recommended to pick up each chicken or rooster weekly to check their feathers for mites or feather lice and their skin for cuts and scratches.
- Chickens have a bowel movement every 20–40 minutes, so it is best to confine your indoor chickens to areas with flooring that does not stain and can be easily cleaned.
- It is highly recommended that you provide your chicken with a nesting area or a soft perch for sleeping.
- Allowing your chickens daily outdoor time, in a protected space, is very beneficial for their well-being, exercise, and exposure to UV light. Allowing 1–2 hours outdoors each day is optimal.
- Like all pets, care must be taken in temperatures over 90ºF (32ºC) and under 32ºF (0ºC).
