Chickens are ea ier and cheaper, to Gallus gallus: keep than many if not n10st other pet birds. They are also much more An Underappreciated Pet responsive to hUlnan attention than by Nancy Bent, Brookfield, Illinois virtually all the other bird we keep (excluding parrots). Chicken are Introduction leghorn, as this breed has become dOinestic anin1al and thousands of allus gallus is a pheasant the don1inant con1mercial chicken. generations over hundreds of years species, better known as However, the An1erican Poultry have lived with, and been tamed by G the Red Junglefowl. Red Association's Awzerican Standard q/ their human caretakers. They there­ Junglefowls are widespread in Perfection (1998) recognizes roughly fore accept humans as part of their Southeast Asia, where they inhabit 50 standard and 40 hantan1 breeds, world, and in many ca es as part of wooded areas in the warmer south­ 111any of which con1e in a n1ultitude their flocks. ern regions of that vast area (BuInp of varieties. There are hundred of As with most pets, the best way and Bohl 1961; Delacour 1977; hobby hreeders producing beautiful to get a really tame pet chicken is to Johnsgard 1999). Living in s111a11 chick ns all across the United States, keep only one bird. And the best grou ps consisting of one Inale and so at least for now we haven't lost way to get that bird is to raise a up to four felnales, they forage for these specialized hreeds. chick. Chicken , like many of the seeds, insects, fruits and greens by gan1 bird and duck pecies, imprint scratching under leaves and through Pet Chickens on (accept a their mother and sub­ the soil. Feinale leave the flock to So, all of the above is very inter­ sequently as their flockmate) the first nest and apparently rais their esting, but why do I care? I keep large animal they see. A chick that chicks by theln elves. finches/ parrotsl softbills - chickens imprints on humans becomes a very Red Junglefowl in the wild are are stupid, dirty fann anilnals that are handleable and responSive adult threatened wid1 extinction. Not only only uitable for back-to-the-land bird. This is not to say that an older are they losino their habitat as the types who live in the ticks. I only chicken cannot learn to become a burgeoning hUlnan population of need thein for eggs, McNuggets, and good pet, but a chick that grows up Southeast Asia encroaches on and my "countly style" decorating. considering 11'un1ans as part of its cuts down their woodlands, but they Chicken are not pets, right? flock does not need to be taught that are in danger of genetic extinction WRONG! Chickens Inake great it is a pet. froin the swamping effect of the sheer pets. True, they are outside pets, and So, how do you obtain a chick? numbers of their highly successful have son1e specialized needs, but all There are two ways: hatch your own descendent, me mo t common bird in of our pet anilnals have require­ fronl a fertile egg, or buy one fro In a the world - the don1estic chicken ments for care that those of u who local feed store. We will consider (Peterson and Brisbin 1999). keep theln are quite willing to n1eet. these options separately. There is some debate as to exactly when and where Red c Q) J unglefowl were don1esticated to (l) u>­ C eventually becolne chickens (see til Z >­ Crawford 1984, Fumihito et a1. 1994) .0 o o but me earliest conclusive evidence of ..c a.. domestic fowl COines fro111 archeolog­ ical sites in Paki tan and China. By Greek and Ron1an times several dis­ tinct breeds had bee11 developed, with the main differences being whether the birds were bred for fight­ ing or for food. In the Inid 19m cen­ tury chickens becan1e d1e first dOines­ tic anilnals to be selectively bred fol­ lowing specific breed standards, resultmg in the forn1at10n of the An1erican Poultry Association in 1873. Today the n1ajority of chickens in the United States belong to a pro­ duction fonn of the familiar white Sittin.g in the hroodeT box hrings you into the chick's world alld makes you finn friends. the afa WATCHBIRD 75 danger of extinction. And they are the chick before you hatch then1! so much n10re inter ting than the Th other main source for standard white leghorn! chick is feed stores. Many feed This brings up an in1portant stores still sell day-old chicks at very point. To ensure that at least one reasonable prices. You will have chick hatches, it i ~ best to set sev r­ Inany fewer breeds to choo e fron1 al eggs. Hatching several chicks has but you won't have to spend 21 day n1any advantages: you 11 have Inore tending an incubator full of hatching than one to choose from allowing eggs ither. Find out what day the you to pick the one whose p r on­ store expects their next shipn1ent of ality fit' you best (y s, chickens do chicks so that they will still be very hav personalitie ,); you'll b able to young (and iinprintable) and so that choose either a rooster or a h n (at you will have n10re to choose fron1. 4-6 week' of age); and you 11 have Ask the store if you can catch your the fun of watching the interactions own chick, then place your hand in of a group of chicks. You 11 have a with the chicks. Select one of the bit lnore work (n1arginally), and curious (n10r friendly and probably you 11 have to interact with n10re Inore intelligent) chicks that birds so they'll all imprint (more approaches your hand. You can play than work) but you'll hav a inquire whether th chicks are clear idea of which will be your be 't straight run Cmixed sex )- cockerels pet. (n1al s) or pullets (females), and Now how do I tell if I ve got a n1ake your choice accordingly. rooster or a hen? Little roosters start Before either hatching or buy­ developing their combs much earli­ ing your chickCs) have an area s t er Coften at 2-3 weeks) than their up for their hOll ing. Young chicks si ters and they will start to crow at chill easily, so should not be kept 4-5 we k. Roo 'ters n1ake v ry outdoor . Besides, you want them By taking the place qf the mother hen, good pets if their crowing is not a where you can interact with then1 to brooding chicks helps them to imprint problem. Th y often have spectacu­ encourage them to be r sponsive onyozi. lar plun1age and are bolder than pets, and where you can keep an hen '. Hens are of course quieter, eye on their developlnent. This If you have, or have access to and have the advantage of being a n1eans that they should be set up an incubator then the absolute best source of free eggs when they begin inside ideally in a centrally-located way to get your pet chicken i to to lay. area. A second bedroon1 or falnily hatch it yourself. Most of us are a ware What happens if they all hatch? room works well, provided that the of the fact that the eggs we buy in the You only want d one chicken - chicks are safe from other pets and tore are infertile, coming from h ns what are you going to do with the young children. Ba ements are not who have never had contact with a others? Don't assume that your local the best choice, due to their general­ rooster. 0, where do you get fertile farn1, petting zoo, or feed tore will ly chilly nature and the fact that they egg? First, decide what breed of take then1 - they probably won't. are omewhat relnoved fro In the rest chicken you would like to have (s e The ideal olution is to work out a of the family, but will do if no where the American Standard ofPerfection), deal with the breeder you got your else is available. and th n find breed rs in your area. eggs froln to return the older chick A large cardboard box or silni­ Check with the Atnerican Poultry after you've made your choice. This lar container (often obtainable frOITI Association or the Ainelican Liv 'tock is a win-win situation. You get a the big chain hardware stores), lined Br eds Con ervancy (addres es at the nice p t, and the bre der gets ome­ for the first few days with a sheet (so end) for breeders. one to do the work of getting young the chicks can easily find their food) Chicken eggs ship well, 0 ev n chicks through the first crucial and later (after about 5 days) with if a breed r is inconveni ntly far weeks. Many breeders might even cob b dding, provided with a heat away you can often arrange to buy gamble a few eggs on you for free if source (infrared heat lamp), food fertile egg through the n1ail. And, you make this ort of arrangen1ent. (chick starter, available at all feed why not pick one of the rarer breeds? Another po ibility is to go in with a stores) and water (shallow, lined You can help to pre erve the e liv - friend or neighbor who also wants a with marbles or large aquarium gra v­ stock antiques, many of which are pet chicken. However you do it el so that the chicks don't drown) is strikingly beautiful and Inay be in make sure you have hOlne for all of all young chicks need. Place the heat 76 Second Quarter 2002 lamp at one end of the box and reg­ call them, and offer them tidbits they able to attack by raccoons, foxes, coy­ ulate the temperature to hold at will happily jump onto your lap, roost otes, and great horned owls, and so about 95°F. right under the lamp. on your feet, and generally use you as must be locked inside for their own place the food and water at the other a jungle gym. When they are a little safety. The Luttmann's chicken book end of the box. The chicks will reg­ older you can take them out of the (see list at end) provides plans for ulate their body temperature by box and onto the couch with you building chicken houses, and gives moving to or away from the heat, while you watch 1V. The cooler tem­ good general advice for the perches and moving back and forth between peratures away from their heat lamp and bedding that chickens will need. heat and food/water will give them will encourage them to brood with A chicken house can be adapted from exercise. The temperature can be you, tucked between your arms and a prefabricated garden shed, or you dropped about 5°F. per week until your body or up on your shoulder, can house them in a pen in your the brooder is the same temperature and will further reinforce their bond garage. Garage pens can be easily as the room the box is in. with you. created with garden wire (3 feet high) Install your day-old chicks in And what about the droppings? fencing off an unused portion of the the box Cafter they are fully dry and Chickens of course cannot be house garage. Bedding or washable rugs fluffy if you hatched them) and broken, so yes, they will poop on must be provided as chickens are watch to make sure that they eat and you and on anything else they hap­ prone to bumblefoot when standing drink. Chicken chicks are precocial, pen to be standing on. However, on concrete for long periods. meaning that they will feed them­ they are very easy to clean up after What about winter's cold? selves, but you need to ensure that as the droppings will be small and Chickens, being descended from all are eating. Scatter some of the fairly dry - the dry quality of their semitropical pheasants, are prone to feed on the old sheet so that they chick starter diet ensures a much frostbite on their combs, wattles, and will see it and instinctively peck at it. neater end product than the fruit diet toes when it gets bitterly cold. The marbles or aquarium gravel in of parrots! Furniture and rugs can be Infrared heat lamps work very well at the water also encourages pecking covered with an old towel or sheet keeping a small shed or garage pen and consequent drinking. It helps to for protection. warm - if the chicken's water is not tap the food dish with your finger Chicks begin to feather out quite freeZing then it is warm enough for and call "chick chick chick" in a fair­ early. Their wings usually begin to your pet. A good rule of thumb is not ly high voice - this resembles both show by the second or third day, tail to let the birds out of their shelter if it the food call of a mother hen and feathers show at about ten days, and is 15° F. or lower. They don't really the pecking she would do next to body plumage pushes through the enjoy weather that cold and the risk tidbits of food. It also trains the natal down at around two weeks, By of frostbite is just too great. chicks to your voice, so that when 6-8 weeks the chicks will be lanky For those in the hotter climates they become adults they will still copies of their parents and will be where winter is not a problem but come running when they hear ready for their next home. If you have summer heat could be, just remem­ "chick chick chick!" hatched several chicks, now is the ber that wild junglefowl inhabit Good treats for young chicks time to make your choice and return mostly forested regions - so provide include chopped greens, shredded the others to the breeder. Your pet plenty of shade where the birds can carrots, frozen corn (thawed, of will bond even more closely to you get out of the sun. This and a steady course) and mealworms. All of these when its siblings have left. supply of fresh water is all they will can be hand fed to the chicks so that When the daytime tempera­ need for thermo-regulation in hot they learn that people bring nice tures are reliably above 60° during summers anywhere. treats and are therefore worth know­ the day and 32° at night then your Pet chickens can be fed a com­ ing. Calling chicks when giving them chick can be moved outside. mercial layer diet as their main food, treats also reinforces them to come Chickens can be easily kept in a with the addition of coarse oyster when they are called, and will facil­ fenced yard. The fence should be at shell grit. Many feed stores will mix itate later care of them as adults. least three feet high and free of the grit into the feed for you, but if One of the best ways to make holes in and underneath the fence you have a laying hen it helps to pets of your chicks is to be with them itself. Adult chickens cannot fly, but have some grit handy so that you as much as possible. When they are are very curious and will quickly dis­ can give her more. Another excellent very young 0-3 days or so), and if cover and exploit any weak points source of calcium is to crush and your box is big enough, climb right in in the fence. Gardens can be fenced feed to your hen the used eggshells with them and (carefully!) sit down. with shorter fencing - two feet will from the eggs that she has thought­ The chicks are attracted to larger ani­ deter most chickens. fully provided for you. mals - after all, mom is much bigger Chickens must have a secure Chickens will also spend their than they are - and if you sit quietly, shelter for the night. They are vulner- day busily foraging for insects, the afa WATCHBIRD 77 c greens and seeds throughout your upply of Q) CD u>­ yard, supplementing th ir main diet eggs as older c III Z with these natural food items. And hens will >­ ..0 o you, of course, will till be hand begin to lay "0 .s:::­ feeding them with such treats as erratically or a.. raisin sunflower eeds and shelled top produc­ peanuts. Another nice treat is any ing eggs alto­ left over fruits and vegetables, uch gether. as parings, skins cor , etc., that I hope I your kitchen n1ight produce. Don't have con­ dump them down the disposal, feed vinced you them to your chicken! that you have Maintaining your friendship roon1 in your with your pet i easy - JOIn your life, and in fowl in the yard. You will find that if your back you sit in a lawn chair that your yard, for a chicken will come and sit with you, chicken. either under your chair or ev n There can be jumping up in your lap. Chickens a real sens also love to 'help' with any garden­ of compan­ ing you do, grabbing any worm or ion hip from bugs you turn up. Remeinber to pick a bird that up your chicken regularly so it tays runs over to accuston1ed to contact. see you If you decide to keep a hen whenever you can expect to start getting deli­ you enter the ciou free-range eggs when he yard, sits on starts to lay at 5-6 months old. It is your lap eats hard to beat a truly fresh egg for fla­ treats fron1 vor, and you will be alnazed at th your hand, or dark orange-yellow color of the sleeps next to yolks produced by a hen that ha your feet a been out in the sun and eating plen­ you watch ty of bugs and greens. You will the sun et The end result - a happy, healthy, and friendly pet chicken (pictured never want to eat tore bought, bat­ fron1 your is the authors own pet New Hampshire hen). tery-caged egg again. And since lawn chair on your hen will generally lay on egg a summer per day for at least eight months out evening. Chickens n1ake terrific pets! Delacour, Jean. 1977. T7.7e Pheasants 0/ the of the year (stopping only to molt or World, second edition. Hindhead (S urrey), K: Spur Publications. in the dead of wint r) you may find Aclrnowledgements FUl11i hito A. et a l. 1994 . On subspecies of the that you will have eggs to give to the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus gallus) Roger Reason has been an suffices as the matriar hie ancestor of neighbor. equal "parent ' to all of our chicks. all domestic breeds. Proceedings of You can gene raIl y expect a the ational Academy a/Sciences 91: Larry Reynolds, breeder of New 12505-12509. healthy pet chick n to live 5-6 years, Hampshires, provided our last batch Johnsgard, Paul A. 1999. The Pheasallt- of the though chicken have been known of egg. \ arid: Biologv a1ld atllral HistOlY, to live up to 15 years. Rooster often second edition. Washington, DC: Sm ithsonian Institution Press. outlive hens a. all that egg-laying Bibliography Pet rson, A. Townsend and Brisnin, 1. Lehr Jr. can shorten a hen' lifespan. When American Poultry Association, Inc. 1998. 1999. Genetic endangerment of wild Red ]ungl fowl Gallus gallu -? Bird your bird begins to age you can start American tandard 0/ Perfection. Mendon, MA: American Poultry C()nseruation fnternalional9: 387-394. another chick in the hou e as a Association, Inc. replacement. Your present bird will Bump, Gardiner and Bohl, Wayne H. 1961. Red Addresses Junglefowl 1I7d Kalij Pheasants u ually welcon1e the company of (Special Sci ntific Report - Wildlife American Li stock another chicken, 0 if the two bird o. 62). Washington, DC: .S. Fish Breeds Conservancy and Wildlife Service. PO Box 477 overlap for awhil you can enjoy Crawford, R.D. 198 . Domestic Fowl. In: Mason, your little flock. Overlapping hens LL. (editor), Hvolution q/Domesticated Pittsboro, C 27312 919-542-5704 like this will also ensure a steady Animals. London: Longman. [email protected] 78 Second Quarter 2002 American Poultly Association, Inc. 133 Millville Street Mendon MA 01756 AFA Classified Advertising 508-473-8769 and Favorite Books Club Information Damerow, Gail. 1995. A Guide to Raising AFA CLASSIFIED ADS GENERAL HOOKBILLS Chickens: Care - Feeding - Attn: Pet Store Owners: Tropical Facilities. Pownal, VT: Storey Gardens Aviary & Associates have over 55 SPECIAL: Domestic ready-to-go Amazon Communications, Inc. species from which to choose, from lories male breeders: Yellow-headeds' Blue­ Luttmann, Rick and Gail. 1976. Chickens in to macaws. One-stop shopping saves air­ fronteds; Spectacled. Call Yvon~e 415- Your Backyard: A Beginner's fare. Over 20 yrs experience. References 388-5466 CA Guide. Emmaus, PA: Rodale available. tele 904-275-3075. Press. Email: [email protected]. ABRC HAS SURPLUS BIRDS FOR SALE: Smith, Page and Daniel, Charles. 1975. The 1 -- 4 2002 Chicken Book Boston, MA: Little, Pairs & singles, Macaws, Cockatoos, Brown and Company. .:. Eclectus, Greys. Call Terry at 561-790- 0729 in Loxahatchee, FL CLUB INFORMATION The Avicultural Society of Tucson will BREEDER PAIRS: B&G Macaws, YN hold its 20th Exotic Bird Expo on Amazons (PROVEN) & BF Amazons. In Sunday, October 6, 2002, 9:30 a.m. to 4 excellent health!! 936-856-1510 TX p.m. at the Rodeway Inn Event Center, Grant Road and 1-10, Exit 256. WANTED: Brazilian Cardinals (Red Admission is $5. For more information Crested Cardinals) for breeding project. contact Squig Lekawa at 520-790-7587 or Advertisers Call Cesar Mena D.V.M. 305-388-5556 FL E-mail [email protected] ' Coming Soon... The Ann Arbor Cage Bird Club proud­ Index ly presents its 17th Annual Exotic Bird PRO-VITAL ® Exhibition on Sunday, August 4, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. Tables will be overflowing with exotic birds, safe bird toys, cages, AFA Tampa Convention '02 ...... 37 PROVEN PAIR DYH AMAZONS; Gorgeous pair, $1200; Handfed Umbrella play stands, nutritious food, T-shirts, raf­ AFA Store ...... Inside Front Cover Cockatoo male, poor feather, sweet, needs fle prizes, artwork, and magazines. Over 1,200 are expected to attend this popular Amer. Pheasant & Waterfowl Soc ... 46 TIC, 3 1/2 yrs. Norene, 559-325-2850 CA event and hear Katy McElroy speak on Amy B. Worell, DVM ...... 47 BREEDERS: Home/Car brooders operate breeding cockatoos outdoors in cold Ohio weather. Her slides and video Assoc. of Avian Veterinarians ...... 55 in home and car. Two sizes, thermostati­ cally controlled. Under $230 each. Explain COCKATOOS GOOD AND BAD. Birdbrain, The ...... 51 Humidity, ventilation, viewing lid. A unique, African Grey batik quilt will be raffled too. $3.00 donation for adults and Classified Ads ...... 79 Mastercard/Visa. Warranty. Phone: 419- 331-1202 OH children 12 and older. Location: Weber's Cuttlebone Plus ...... 47 Inn, 3050 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor (just MEALY COLLECTION FOR SALE: off 1-94 west). For more information call Everybody's Bird Mart (Pomona,CA) ...... 30 5 pairs at $825 per pair, 1 Mealy male at co-chairs Chris Karpo 734-429-5343 Gabriel Foundation ...... 34 $650, 1 Mealy female at $825; OTHERS: 1 ([email protected]) or Carol Aldrich 734- Orange Wing at $350, 2 Bolivian Blue and 971-4566 ([email protected]) Hagen, Rolf C. (USA)/Prime ...... 42 Gold males at $725 ea; 1 Maxi Pionus male October 6th San Diego CA: North at $225. All are mature birds, some are Lyon Electric Co ...... 45 County Aviculturists 12th Annual Bird domestic. Must sell due to zoning issues. Mart, Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo Del Magnolia Bird Farm ...... 34 Please phone 206-762-7300 or e-mail: Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo. 10-4 [email protected] or WA Mutations Unlimited ...... 71 Info: 760-765-1406 Booth Rental: 760- 806-4433. E-mail: Pet Air ...... 35 ABS PLASTIC NEST BOXES: Several [email protected] South Texas Bird Symposium ...... 53 sizes and styles - custom, too. Eagle creek Exotics 503-630-5894 OR November 2, 2002. Plainville, Conn., Sun Seed Co., Inc...... Back Cover Ramada Inn (860-747-6876) Connecticut The Birdcare Company ...... 9 FOR SALE: Lineolated Parakeets. All col­ Association For Aviculture annual ors currently available in the U.S includ­ symposium. Speaker: Joanna Burger, Veterinarian Listing ...... 15 ing Cinnamon. Domestically bred, not author of The Parrot Who Owns Me. imports. Breeding stock only, no pet Virtual Solutions Inc ...... 71 Vendors, classes. Info: Kim (9am-5pm sales. Bob Nelson or David Palmer 541- EDT) 860-875-5349 or website: 396-2360 OR www.cafabirdclub.org

the afa WATCHBIRD 79 What are YO U waiting fi r?

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