Chickens Becoming Popular Pets

It may sound unbelievable, but according to am MSNBC article, chickens are becoming popular pets.

Are chickens a good pet choice? Hens lay fresh eggs. The eggs can turn a profit depending on how many chickens you have. 

Most people have hens only which lay eggs regardless of whether or not a rooster is around. If you want baby chicks, you will need a rooster.

Chickens are relatively easy to care for, social, and when raised from a chick as a family pet they bond with people.

They like to eat ticks and mosquitoes, which is great bug control.

There are issues to be concerned about.  Rodents are attracted to chicken feed. There are feeders that discourage rodents sold at horse and feed supply stores.

Unless you are handy and can build your own chicken coup, you'll need to buy the proper living quarters. You'll need to buy chicken feed so that the chickens stay healthy, and that includes in the winter time.

Chickens like to perch. You may find a chicken perched, sleeping, on top of your front porch rocking chair. When given a choice where to sleep, most free-roaming chickens choose something to perch on near the front door of their owner's home.

Wandering chickens can annoy neighbors. Neighbors don't like to find a chicken perched on their front porch. Chickens frequently wander into the road and are killed.

Northeast Cobb livestock and poultry law: Livestock and poultry animals are only permitted on a lot of two acres or larger. All animals will be maintained at least 10 feet from any residential property line.

Editor's Note: When I lived in New York state, I had two Rhode Island Red hens named Thelma and Louise. They lived outside in a custom-made chicken house. When I'd garden, they'd stand next to me and scratch the soil and pull worms. If we had pizza delivered, they'd chase the delivery man to the front door. An unknown fact: chickens love pizza!