Could I keep in my backyard a pair of chickens as pets and also to get organic eggs?
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Processing 280 Chickens – Cornish Cross & Red Bros at Pete and Jen Backyard Bird’s Mobile Poultry Processing Unit
Question by Harold C: Could I keep in my backyard a pair of chickens as pets and also to get organic eggs?
I have exotic birds in my backyard so I want to find a breed that is beautiful but can produce eggs, I was thinking about buying a peahen but supposedly they lay eggs twice a year.
I’d also like to know how long do hens live, do they make good pets and how long do they lay eggs. Thanks
Feel free to answer in the comment section below
2 Responses to Could I keep in my backyard a pair of chickens as pets and also to get organic eggs?
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There is a lot of disagreement on the lifespan of a hen. Generally, you can expect one to live for eight years, perhaps even more with good care. I would not be surprised if a hen lived to be 12.
Hens make great pets. They are charming, intelligent (despite the stereotype that suggests otherwise), and can lay eggs. You can expect a hen to lay an egg daily, although that is not always the case. Often times, older hens will not lay everyday. Also, the amount of daylight and temperature could influence the amount of eggs your bird lays. In the summer, when food is plentiful and the weather is warm, hens may lay more than one egg each day. In colder weather, they may skip a day between laying eggs.
silversight2189
May 11, 2012 at 4:56 am
There are so many breeds of chickens! Many of them are beautiful or fun-looking. Check out your local library for info–I found a book (sorry, can’t remember the title!) that had great color photos of many different breeds.
Hens do make good pets–each has its own personality and it is fun to watch them interact. Some are bullies and some are passive–so you have to make sure each one has space so they can eat, roost, and drink without being chased off. Some are friendly with people, some are uninterested. They lay eggs for many years, the production drops off as they age, but if they are pets it doesn’t matter so much. Chickens are great if you have a garden; let them in and they will eat many of the bugs–no need for pesticides! Just wait until the plants are big enough so they won’t scratch them out of the ground, that is! I had a subscription to ‘Backyard Poultry’ magazine which has many great articles and information. Here is a link to their website which has some articles etc.:
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com
I’m sure there are many other good sites. Have fun researching. Try to find someone in your area who keeps chickens, and they may be able to give you some good advice that is more geared toward your climate etc.
Good luck and have fun with your chickens!
ratlover1
May 11, 2012 at 5:20 am