How to care for chickens? Pet chicken
Roosters a.k.a. Chickens, the birds often ending in people’s stomach instead of hearts. It’s funny how these chickenists love and adore these birds who dirty the home with their poop.
Well, Just like them I am one of the chickenists who kind of ended up with the adorable colorful chicks who turned into cute roosters. It was then I realized that the concept of individual differences is not merely limited to humans. Every one of them was different, each one brimming with its own unique attributes, making our days wonderful with their antics.
Pets, they come into your lifeless life and transform it into a jovial, adventurous and beautiful place where even waking up in the morning and reaching home becomes exciting. In this blog, we will be talking about roosters/hens/chickens as pets - “the mighty beings” and how to care for chickens.
So, brace yourself as you are about to learn the charm of these birds.
How to care for chickens at home?
Behaviour of chicken
We often wonder that roosters are birds, so they will perch gracefully like other birds but it’s completely opposite; in fact in some scenarios their behavior resembles that of a dog, especially the feather wags. The tail replaced with feathers, barks with crows and snout with beak but their biting habits remain the same. Though being bitten by a pet chicken doesn’t lead to injections, a little bleeding or a bruise is all what we get.
Why do they bite?
- Roosters bite to protect themselves and to show dominance.
- During spring or warm months, their testosterone level rises and they may nip people.
- Quick movements, loud sounds or new clothes can scare hens/roosters leading to biting.
Chicken Health & Hygiene
Chicken health and life - No matter how long does the rooster live, their life is also filled with several ups and downs as even with a short lifespan, they do go through the old age, they do fall ill and they do suffer from dreadful health issues like humans. We cannot change everything but we can prevent certain issues by being aware. Let’s learn how to care for chicken - health and hygiene.
- Eyes: Cleaning eyes with a wet wipe will ensure they do not get their eyes covered with white film that can be caused by bacterial and fungal infections. Regular cleaning will remove dirt, dust and discharge. If your rooster has white film in its eyes then cleaning them alone isn’t enough - change dirty bedding, moldy feed, check for infections, vitamin deficiency or high ammonia in the coop.
- Wattle: When roosters eat grains or drink water their wattle often becomes dirty and wet. Wattle, the bib, the terrible bib that leads to difficulty in eating and drinking, especially while bending. The wattle is often wet and has food attached that over time turn into scabs or sores.
- Beaks & Claws: The beak and claws grow so it becomes essential to trim them. When they have longer beaks, it is difficult for them to eat and long nails/claws often break haphazardly leading to bleeding. Also, ensure the rear of their claw is smooth.
- Ears: Their ears have hairs outside them, they can ooze blood or black substance because of illness or fights. Check the hairs - if they are dried and have black or red color on them. Clean the ear area gently and check for mites or lice.
- Comb: The part that is more like a health detector as its temperature and color showcases the signs of health issues. With age, the comb grows bigger in size especially in poultry roosters. When the comb becomes big and heavy, it tilts to either side of the head. Ensure the bended part is always dry and their eyes are not leaking water.
- Bath: Bath them once in every one or two months as at home, they do not get the opportunity to dust bath and keep themselves clean from parasites and dirt. Bathing will remove parasites, clean droppings trapped in feathers, improve circulation, prevent skin infections and keep birds odorless.
With chickens as pets (home), ensure their surroundings are always clean, they don’t end up swallowing small candy wrappers or hair.
What do chickens eat?
Roosters/Hens need a mix of grains, protein and greens. You can easily prepare this mix at home.
| Food for chickens | Examples |
|---|---|
| Grains | Maize, broken rice and pulses |
| Greens | Spinach, carrots, cabbage and other leafy vegetables |
| Fruits | Banana, apple, papaya, melon |
| Calcium | Eggshells |
| Water | Give fresh, clean water daily and keep the drinker clean |
What sound does a chicken make (Chicken sounds)?
Crow
Cock-a-doodle-doo — Roosters use this sound while claiming territory, announcing presence to others, signaling dominance or alerting movements nearby.
Alarm Call
Kak-kak-kak — Chickens make this sound when a predator or a stranger appears. It means “Danger - stay alert or hide!”.
Mating / Food call
Chuk-chuk-chuk — These chicken noises are to attract hens or show them food. They make this sound and drop the food on the ground for hens or to show them something good.
Aggression
Throaty growls — It is a challenge or warning sound that roosters make before attacks.
Rooster Pop Art Painting Check out our pop art kits and turn your rooster/hen image into a custom pop art paint by number kit! |
How to stop a fighting roosters?
When people rub shoulders, sparks fly.
When roosters rub feathers, it results in fight….
Fights are inevitable when it comes to roosters, their neck feathers rising, face taking the appearance of a white sunflower and in a minute the feathers can turn all bloody.
If you have more than one rooster as pets, ensure you know how to stop rooster fight or the tactics to meddle in rooster battles. Learning the rules of rooster fights is an essential part of taking care of chickens.
How to stop rooster fights immediately?
- Don’t grab the fighting chickens directly otherwise you can be badly injured.
- Make a loud noise and use a board, crate, anything to create a barrier between them.
- If you want to separate them by holding a rooster then use a towel/blanket to grab one of them and in severe cases pour water over them slowly.
Once you have got the birds all separated check for injuries - puncture wounds, bleedings, torn comb/wattles or limping. If the signs are visible apply medicine on clean wounds and isolate the injured bird.
Short Term Management (24–72 hours)
- Keep birds separated for several days
- Provide extra food and water separately.
- Reduce light for a day or two.
Long Term Management
- Introduce new birds gradually in sufficient spaces.
- Provide multiple feeders, keep visual barriers in surroundings.
- Remove the aggressive bird and keep them alone.
FAQs
How long do chickens live?
Most chickens live about 5 to 10 years, depending on breed, care, and living conditions.
Do chickens like to be petted?
Yes, many chickens enjoy gentle petting, especially if they’re used to human contact from a young age.
Do chickens make good pets?
Yes, chickens can make great pets as they have unique personalities, they can recognize their owners, and have low maintenance.
Are chickens loud?
Hens are generally quiet unlike roosters who crow throughout the day.
Can chickens eat dog food?
Chickens can eat small amounts of dog food occasionally, but it should not replace their regular feed.
Chicken care - Wrap-Up!!
- Food: Balanced feed + greens + water
- Behavior: Territorial
- Noise: Crowing natural
- Health: Deworm, clean coop, check eyes & comb
- Bonding: Offer treats and gentle handling
Chickens when treated as family members like other pets becomes good companions with no concept of personal space. They will find their perfect spot - your tummy, hand, leg, shoulders, chest and begin their nap sessions. The ones who make it a goal to rouse you from your sleep and in case of no movement instead of crowing - either cuddles or sleeps on you.
And if you cover yourself with a blanket during the day, they might come and try to pull the cover with their tiny beak. These adorable birds can turn into social birds playing balloon burst, play musical instruments like drums or play with toys.
When given a chance, they teach us being loved and to love is not difficult. Ask a rooster parent and you will know. The praises tumbling from their mouth will tell you they are just like other pets - Lovable, Beautiful and Adorable!
Dear rooster parents, the time with these bird babies are special and learning how to care for chickens is not enough. Why not turn their memories into an art that you can cherish forever. Pets by Numbers offer custom paint by number kit with which you can create beautiful paintings of your roosters or hens.
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