Pet Backyard Chickens
These are my five hens. (And my female pekin named Sunny in the begginning) There’s 3 Rhode island reds and 2 Easter Eggers. In 2 days they will be 20 weeks old, and one of the Rhode islands just started laying. Also, the RIRs aren’t pure breeds, and are bred to lay more eggs. They are all really tame, but since they’ve never seena camera before some of them are really nervous around it. And yeah, their kennel/setup is pretty ghetto, but I’m pretty much in the city, in a small 1/3 of an acre suburban yard and this works great. I let them out for several hours a day, if it’s not raining. They have their mouths open because it’s hot out, it’s like how a dog pants. If you have any questions about my chickens or need help with yours, then just ask!
25 Responses to Pet Backyard Chickens
Leave a Reply
@nanoguy4098 dude i would move to some isolated island with them and raise them man.. somwhere in borneo i think… i know from that survivor show one island they were on had wild chickes prob go there that way when i die if they alive they can live lol..anyway hmm neigbours would like free eggs i think im going to poll my neighborhood see what they think il be sure to tell them no rooosters.. plus there kids can feed the chickens free! 🙂 thatll be a nice experiance!
TheReasonableHuman
November 10, 2011 at 3:52 am
@TheReasonableHuman I actually did not get permission, and I know for a fact that I probably shouldn’t have them. That said, my neighbors, like you said, are quite good and don’t mind the occasional bawking (Along with the free eggs, too!). Having had them for awhile now I’m not sure what I would do if I had to get rid of them.
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 4:36 am
dude how did you get permission to keep them.. wont the local authorities just take them away? man you are so lucky to have good neighbors. i want to have chickens too but i wouldnt be able to take it if i had to give them up man. it would suck
TheReasonableHuman
November 10, 2011 at 5:33 am
they really trust u 🙂
evanqzeruel
November 10, 2011 at 5:51 am
@ashdabiz Pretty much. Nothing more than a regular, 1/4 of an acre, suburban yard.
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 6:03 am
that just a normal garden?
ashdabiz
November 10, 2011 at 6:04 am
I let my 4 hens out in the garden from dusk till dawn.
As a result, they’ve made short work of my lawn; dug trenches, eaten all my vegetables, pooped everywhere but its nice to see them happy. Whenever I open the back door, they run towards me flapping their wings, expecting treats.
I feed them layer mash in the morning, and give them bananas later on. they also love sardines, rabbit food, pears, watermelons, brown rice, oatmeal and mixed vegetables.
They rewared me with 4 eggs every day.
OneProvidence
November 10, 2011 at 6:36 am
We have been interested in having chickens for a while, I love them as pets, and mum likes the idea of having food recycled and not having to buy expensive free range eggs! I have a few questions though that we have been worried about. 1. After the initial cost of buying a coop and the chickens, how much is upkeep? 2. Can you feed them just on scraps? What do you feed them? 3. Mum is very anxious about the idea of them attracting foxes. We are in Northcote, Victoria, Australia. Thanks mucho 🙂
Broccolily
November 10, 2011 at 6:42 am
@markklynchh999 I feed mine Southern States chicken layer. It’s a nice brand and I get mine fresh from the feed mill. It’s vegertarian (Plant proteins only) which isn’t exactlly what I like, since chickens need animal protein, but I solved that problem by supplementing with feeder insects.
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 6:51 am
@PatricksTime Not too much. The only noise they will make is before and after the lay their eggs, they complain a lot before the egg-laying. After, the perform the “egg-song” – which sounds like Bawk Bawk BAGAWK! Mine don’t always do this, but when they do they are loud. Not quite enough to really annoy my neighbors though.
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 7:29 am
what do you feed your hens . they seem to be very happy. ive got 5 or 6 hens ive got 3RIR’s , 1 light sussex a jersey giant rooster and 2 silkie chicks i cant tell if their male or female yet. ?
markklynchh999
November 10, 2011 at 8:17 am
i used to have atleast 2 ducks
forastfire202
November 10, 2011 at 9:09 am
how much noise do they make?
PatricksTime
November 10, 2011 at 9:36 am
lovely chicken
swsebrownsugar1888
November 10, 2011 at 9:48 am
@cremeens100 Not a farm at all! But thanks. 🙂
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 10:31 am
It’s good to see chickens having a nice life instead of being abused and neglected in those horrible slaughter houses. Good work with your farm!
cremeens100
November 10, 2011 at 10:45 am
@chooniecat Black in the tail is a common breed trait for RIRs. New Hampshires are usually a very light orange or red, lighter than my RIRs. They can both have black in the tail. It’s hard to tell what yours might be, because production breeds, like red sex links, and new hampshires, are often crossed with other egg layers (Like leghorns). Each hatchery has their own recipe for an egg laying hen.
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 10:48 am
@nanoguy4098 I have ONE New Hampshire and her tail also has the black(as one of yours does,can’t see the rest!) and didn’t realize RIR would have any black on them.
chooniecat
November 10, 2011 at 11:28 am
@destroyahdes Eggs are only a bonus for these hens. I can pop out a chair and they’ll all fight for a spot on the chair. Especially the one that was dirt bathing, (the one where I was messing with the wattles) she reminds me of a puppy sometimes, the way she purrs and closes her eyes when you scratch a good spot.
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm
@chooniecat They’re production Rhode island Reds. Production as in from a hatchery, all hatcheries breed for egg production. The pure RIRs are really rare, bigger, darker, and lay less eggs. They’re all laying now, though a couple are having small moults here and there which limits eggs.
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 12:36 pm
They’re so sweet. Mine aren’t this petable anymore. They were when they were little. I have to catch them to give them hugs.
destroyahdes
November 10, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Love the chickens! Are the red girls New Hampshires? I recognize the EE’s.
chooniecat
November 10, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Hmm, that cute little Aracauna in the background looks a lot like mine. 🙂
Catfissy
November 10, 2011 at 1:46 pm
@nanoguy4098
hi. I got mine in late April. All of them (I got five) lay one egg everyday even when it’s freezing outside. They are hard working chickens 🙂
NicholasPiano
November 10, 2011 at 2:21 pm
@NicholasPiano I love your sex-links. 🙂 How old are yours? I need to do an update video of my girls, they’ve filled out nicely in size and their eggs are getting pretty nice and large. I have my first molter (One of my easter eggers) and she’s pretty ragged and funny looking. Without supplemental light, egg laying has slowed down. I guess I’m being lazy on adding a light, oh well. 😛
nanoguy4098
November 10, 2011 at 2:50 pm