Girlfriend Needs a Chicken

Great story. C’mon, Dad!

I’d like to do my part. We have chickens and absolutely love them.

Tell him, “better a chicken than a new pony!”

Tell Dad every child needs a special pet. Hers is a chicken….

Our town allows 3 chickens to folks living in the city limits. Anna will learn about caring for a pet other than a cat or dog and spend some extra time outside. It’s a win – win idea.

Oh, I feel for your little daughter! She looks so happy cuddling that hen. I want chickens myself, but haven’t exactly convinced the husband. C’mon, Dad, let the girl have a chick!

I had a pet chicken and a pet rooster when I was about ten years old. Got them as chicks at Easter. So cute and I loved them dearly. All went well throughout the summer when they could stay outdoors. But it was too cold for them in the winter and they needed to be in a warmer place. Hence a terribly smelly basement until we found them a new home. Is your shed going to be warm enough in winter to keep the chicken from freezing?

A couple of gorgeous little bantam hens would be perfect in the garden shed for this delightful little girl. Not a disadvantage to be found…kids and chickens are natural together and no better way to teach her about love, life, and responsibility than her own little flock. The garden will be better off and so will the lovely girl.

Give the girl a chicken!!!! What is better then eating farm fresh eggs?

Dad, let Anna have her chickens! She’ll be winning blue ribbons at the local county 4-H fair in no time! What a wonderful experience!! 🙂

I’ll be sharing on FB. Every woman+wife+mother could use a little help getting hubby to listen!

awww. cute story and cute picture. Just wanted to leave a comment so you can reach 100! good luck!

So cute, good luck with changing his mind!

Aw, come on, give the girl a chicken! (Just be glad she’s not asking for a new puppy, like the one in the photo.)

The chicken post caught my eye. Last night my 6 year old granddaughter called me about the “oviparous” animals they are learning about in kindergarden. I told her about the house wren that built a nest in my hose hanger a few weeks ago – the three eggs hatched yesterday.

Most cities will allow hens but not roosters–guess people don’t want to be up at 4 am! We have 2 chickens and our grandchildren love taking care of them, not to mention eating the eggs. Chickens are perhaps some of the easiet animals to have!! Come on Dad give it a try

Yeah, Dad, get with it. I mean, how much trouble can one chicken be? I gave my 2-yr old nephew a baby duck for Easter on year and 40 years later I’m still waiting for revenge from my brother and sister in law :>)

We have chickens and my daughter loves them. You will be amazed how they can be trained and be really good pets. We let her pick out one of our newly hatched chicks and she trained it to come to her when she would say, “Come to Mama”.
Let her get it! It’s a valuable learning experience (sorry had to through that in).

I had the same problem with my husband…I begged him for 3 years but he would not agree to have chickens. We got our first chicks on 3/26/2010 followed by two other batches in April. He now LOVES the chickens…loves to sit and watch them and listen to their chatter.

I would suggest at least 2 chickens…they are social critters. Some communities allow 2 or 3 hens…most do not allow roosters. BackyardChicken.com is a great starting point…lots of good info and many experienced folks ready to help the novice.

We have 22 hens. where we currently live in a small town but we are in the process of moving to a much larger city that requires livestock to be 100 feet from neighboring houses…our neighbors there include horses, goats, donkeys, and chickens. We are in zone 7b in Texas so we built a run 21ftx9ft that is very open to allow air flow during our hot summers. You will need 4 square feet/hen in a coop; 10 square feet/hen in a run (ours is covered with hardware cloth to keep out predators and a roof to keep out owls and hawks). If you are in a cold climate allow more room in the coop since your hens might be snowed in for days.

Best Wishes that your daughter gets her wish…tell Dad to read on BYC.com about how much fun it is to watch chickenTV.

I’m sure a little cutie can eventually talk her daddy into a chicken. My father and 3 boys and I are starting on our own chicken tractor tomorrow. I was surprised how easy it was to talk my husband into after filling him in on how beneficial chickens can be by eating insects and “paying” their own way by supplying fresh eggs.

My daughter raised chickens for a couple years and my grandkids LOVED it. Little Sam would chase them around the yard to hug them! Besides, now you will have fresh eggs!

I have wonderful memories of collecting eggs with my Grandmother when I was a child. Dad, get on board. Save your descending vote for something bigger – like when she wants to start dating at 14.

I was considering some hens for our household but, in fact, our municipality does NOT allow them. It’s likely just as well, since we also have coyotes in the neighborhood and it’d be putting the hens at risk to live outside, anyway.

It would be horrible for your daughter if you got her chicks then you had to give it up later when your town issued you a citation. I’m siding with dad; it’s a much more sensible approach.

I share you pain, Dad, but get over it. Chickens are wonderful, your daughter is wonderful, so let them get together in your backyard.

My daughter gets me brown eggs (I love brown eggs!) from a friend that are so big you can’t close the lid of a jumbo carton on some of them! What fun to raise some of these. Let that little cutie have some fun like that!

Definitely! This girl needs a chicken, most municipalities allow for a small flock in a backyard. There is a lot of information at http://www.backyardchickens.com. Everyone in the forums is very helpful so read up and GET THAT GIRL A CHICKEN! Let’s go Dad!
We are getting our own flock started this year and can hardly wait.

Chickens are awesome. We have 1 dog, 2 cats, and 23 chickens. Started out with 8, 7 hens and a rooster. I just got 5 Americaunas because they lay blue and green eggs. I also, have a Cochin bantam and Silikie bantam roosters, and a polish bantam hen, and just got 8 silkie chicks (lost one yesterday). But I love my chickens. They are so fun to watch. Who needs TV. The Silkies are my favorites. Cotton balls on legs and so sweet and docile. Your daughter would learn so much from having chickens. I say chickens, because you really should have at least two as they are flock birds and would be happier with at least one other to be with.
Most suburbs now allow at least three hens. And if not, there are groups out there to help you get the law changed. Good luck. I hope she gets her chicken. They make wonderful pets, and the eggs are great benefits too.

We got baby chicks at the fair one year. They were so much fun to raise. But when they got big, we let them roam free. They would peck at our ankles every time we came home so we gave them away. Plus keeping them safe from hungry wild critters was difficult. As long as they are contained in an wild animal-proof coup, I think it would be a lot of fun! Why not try it? You can always find someone else who raises chickens that would be glad to take them off your hands if it doesn’t work out.

Anna definitely needs a chicken–maybe for Easter? I’d have one in an instant but I know our municipality doesn’t allow them and I doubt if our dog would tolerate it! Pllllllllllease Daddy?

watch out for the roosters……they’ll have all the neighbours up before daylight. r r r r rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

If your township is the problem, check at the town hall. There is always a loop hole. Ours was that you need 1 acre to have a horse but you need 5 acres to have a chicken! The loop hole—- if you belong to a bird club, fanciers, 4H exotic etc. you were exempt from the law. Cool huh! Kids need pets and they learn alot from them. It works both ways. Good luck with the chickens. You should raise at least 6. They stick together for warmth, shelter, safety and thrive much better.

Well,my name Quilted Chick kinda says it all doesn’t it! My husband said we’d never have chickens, now we have 12! 3 are lovely speckled silkies, and one of them, Snoball, you can hold on her on her back, cradled in your arms like a baby and she coos and sleeps! They have 5 toes, and “fur” instead of feathers, their fur is fluffy like a cat. All of my quilting customers love them the best! The rest are Rhode Island Reds and lay beautiful brown eggs. Once he has a fresh egg, he won’t want store bought and he might just love that little chicken! Anna certainly seems to! Chickens are educational, and caring for a pet promotes responsbility and a nuturing attitude! Good luck Anna:)

Think of all the fun memories raising a chicken would bring!!! Free eggs= priceless!

Oh, you really should consider getting two and keep them safe. We have a Chinese gandergoose – his sister got loose and floated away in the stream = when the neighbors had them. He thinks that he is human = a woman took him to her pond – he only left the pond to go visit her neighbors who didn’t like that – we did so now we have him in a dog run and he’s great fun – very talkative – he’s over a year old now – big boy. Your child will love you forever and you’ll be grateful for the eggs!!!!

We used to live in an area where the zoning did not provide for owning chickens, however, we went to our neighbors and had them sign a letter stating that they did not have a problem with us having a limited number of chickens. We took the letter to the city and applied for a permit to own chickens and it was granted. We were allowed to own up to 9 hens and 1 rooster. Since then (20 years ago) we have moved and live in an area now that we can have chickens. We now raise several different kinds of chickens and incubate and sell the eggs. If you want your chickens to lay eggs regularly, feed them laying mash and provide 14 hours of daylight per day and a nest for them to ‘deposit’ their eggs. Also be sure you provide adequate safety from predators. Good luck.

Having a chichen is the greatest! I hand raised some awhile back and I had a rooster that was so people friendly that when I went for walks in the neighborhood He would either walk beside me or would sit on my shoulder for the entire walk. The neighbors got such a kick out of it that they would come by to give Roo a walk if I couldn’t. So Please, Please Dad let little one have a chichen for some of the funniest memory’s You could imagin !!

You gotta get that girl a chicken. Actually, the previous commenter was right. Chickens are very social animals and you would need two. The good news is you can get a bantam breed that is the size of a large dove. They lay eggs just like their larger counter parts and make wonderful pets. I have 9 chickens (3 bantams, 5 large hens, and 1 rooster). I keep all of them in a coop that is 4 x 10. I let them out to free range in my yard when I get home in the evenings. You could keep two in a very small area. I never buy eggs at the store and I share with all my friends. I hope her daddy comes around. Chickens a so much fun to watch and you never need to buy compost again.

Dear Stacy, do your homework and find out what EXACTLY your city’s ordinances are, then build or buy a chicken tractor for them. For your family 1 to 3 hens should keep you in eggs and maybe even a few to share with the neighbors! There are so many good reasons to have chickens… they eat pesky garden bugs, make awesome pets, and will supply a little bit of fertilizer throughout the yard (if you have that movable chicken tractor). Oh, and don’t worry about cold weather unless it drops below freezing, and even then a well maintained brooder lamp will keep them warm on those nights. Oh yes, and there is a “Chicken Whisperer!” He can be on Facebook or by Googling. Hope this helps you!
Lynda
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We currently have 5 chickens. Just make sure you’re properly prepared for them. You’ll need to check your municipalities rules first. We tried free ranging, but they got in the neighbor’s yard a few times and they complained, so now they are fenced. Also, make sure you have a proper and secure coop. Chickens are pretty defenseless, and there are a lot of predators out there waiting for a free meal. We had a lot of problems with raccoons. They are a lot of fun, and my girls love gathering the eggs. Go for it!

Every girl NEEDS a CHICKEN!

I was raised on a Nebraska Chicken Farm. My twin sister and I lived with our grandparents and our only chore was to open the chicken house door. You can’t imagine how fast I ran to beat the Rhode Island Reds to the gate–it was a flood of chixs! We each took a baby chick as a pet and I carried mine around by it’s neck. He became a chicken with a verrrry lonnnnggg neck and had a very strange crow. Grampa would only raise Rhode Islands because they wouldn”t fly. They lay brown eggs. I wish you good luck if you decide to do this. The smell can be overpowering. You can’t cuddle up with a chicken. They also don’t come when you call. I never named my chicken, tho. Here chick-chick.

C’mon Dad! Chickens make wonderful, quiet, undemanding pets. I’ve had several over the yrs. & I agree with some of the recommendations above re: Silkies. They seem to straddle the line between “livestock” & exotic bird, they’re small & adorable, & 2 of them would produce very little manure. Very easy keepers & I’m sure your daughter would just adore them.

She should have two chickens, they will eat bugs in the yard & they do not stink. They’ll give you free eggs. I have three hens and love them.

I favor the young lady getting a chicken….as long as it IS a hen! We had two hens for about 5 years: my husband made a lovely 6′ x 6′ chicken house with screen sides, a solid roof, and in the winter (here in PA) we added plexiglass panels on the sides to keep out most of the cold weather. Throw leaves or hay on the ground within the house, throw your kitchen garbage in the house, and the hen(s) will shred everything…then you put it in the compost pile, and in a short time you have the most beautiful compost!! Our garden thrived, as did Henny Penny and Henrietta. Our neighbors loved our hens too, and would often walk over to say hello to them! We gave them to a farmer when we were going to be away for an extended time, and boy! do I miss them!! Not to mention how I miss those wonderful eggs!!!

I had a chicken, and she made a great pet. she will get attach to your daughter. it will be a great experience for her.

To be considered. No neighbor is going to like chicken doodoo on her steps. Nowadays a lot of people work nights or have unusual sleeping hours and they object to having a rooster crow. In our subdivision keeping chickens is against the convents but the neighbor’s children have them (have ten acres) and we just look the other way. We firmly believe that animals are great for numerous reasons.

I myself want to get some chickens, but my husband is against it. I vote that dad gives Anna a chance to raise a couple to show how responsible she can be. There’s nothing better than hands-on experience to teach responsibility. It will give Anna self confidence as well in the knowing that she can keep these friendly creatures alive and healthy. I’m not sure if all chickens eat ticks, but I know Guinea hens do. In any case, they would eat the bugs in the yard, provide free fertilizer and eggs.

Let her have chickens,Dad! Mother Earth News has good articles about a small home flock. Check the library for back issues or look online – you can getdirections for building all kinds of coops, moveable or stationary, and pens etc. Backyard Poultry is one of my favorite magazines. We’ve had close to 50 chickens over the years and have loved them all-Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks,Bantam Silkies, and white Leghorns. Good luck and have fun.

My younger daughter raised rabbits for eight years, and there were numerous challenges (not the least of these was our suspicion that three of the does had taken vows of chastity). One that was easy to fix was the fly and bug problem due to the rabbit droppings. We got a little Bantam hen we named Henrietta Penelope, She was a very dignified little soul who never thought of herself as small. It took no time at all for her to impress upon the cat and the dog that she was not to be annoyed, period. She kept our yard almost totally bug free, and she was a dear little pet who always came running when we called her. We have many funny stories about her; I may write a book some day. Do get Anna her hen, and I think a Bantam would be perfect. And if she starts sitting on small balls or stones, get her a couple chicks to raise or your poor little hen will wilt! The rabbits were sometimes a pain, but Henny P. never was.

Love the idea. I’ve been thinking of getting a dozen or so myself. Just have to prepare a nice safe haven for them like a fenced in coop. We live in a “woodsie” neighborhood in NH and would need to take extra precaution against the wildlife.
Your little girl is a sweetheart. I’m sure you and dad will do what is best for her whatever that is.

Absolutely cute picture! How could anyone refuse such a sweet face? Can I borrow your picture to use to talk about kids and chickens?

not just one chicken though, chickens are social and need each other for warmth in the winter, predator protection, and company. They are not noisy and smelly, they are adorable and the best pets I ever had! Get at least 3.