Bobbi Drake was visiting with a friend when a chicken popped onto her friend’s lap. The sight made her laugh.
“I said, ‘Wow! These are fun chickens.’”
Her friend agreed.
“I’d rather have chickens than a dog or a cat,” the friend said. “They’re too much trouble. But these chickens? They’re great.”
Not long after, Bobbi and her husband, Rod, bought a few chicks for their backyard in Polk County. Now, Tillie, Millie and Lillie—a Plymouth Rock and two buff Orpingtons—live the good life along Lake Hatchineha. They, too, like to hop on laps for a cuddle.
As retirees, the couple have found their hens to be a good fit.
“I didn’t want a dog, and I didn’t want a cat,” Bobbi says. “They don’t shed in the house, and they don’t have to be potty-trained. I’d been there and done that, so I thought I’d try these chickens. I really enjoy them.”
Chicken Run
It’s a familiar story for Osceola County Extension Agent Jessica Sullivan, who’s seen an increase in families keeping backyard chickens in recent years.
“Absolutely, people are treating them like pets,” she says with a laugh. “Just like a dog or a cat, people can get very attached to chickens. They spend a lot of time with them and even cuddle with them.”
Some even build or buy what Jessica likes to call boutique chicken coops.
“They’ll make them super cute and paint them really pretty,” she says. “Some people really have fun with it.”
Keeping chickens as pets is the latest evolution of a trend that grew quickly around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jessica noticed it when she started fielding calls from people with questions about raising bees and chickens and planting small gardens and orchards.
As the calls grew more frequent and the questions more varied, the former horticulture student found a niche for herself. Now, Jessica is the go-to person for anyone in the county interested in small farming and homesteading.
“Oftentimes, these are people who probably would prefer an acre or two, but they have maybe one-sixth of an acre lot in their backyard,” she says. “They want to maximize that.”
Chicken Life
Many want the lifestyle that comes with raising chickens, too.
“A lot of times, the people I talk to are families that want fun and interesting things to do,” Jessica says. “They want to learn about where food comes from and teach their kids. They end up keeping small livestock like chickens and bees that produce safe food products. They also like gardening and planting little backyard orchards.”
Those were the very things that interested Becky Drake, Bobbi and Rod’s daughter. Becky bought her first chicks after she and her son, Riley, visited her parents’ house.
“Riley just loved them,” Becky says. “We were calling him
the chicken whisperer because they were jumping all over him.”
Over the past two years, Becky and Riley have added ducks, quail and bees to their double lot in Sarasota County.
“The chickens were sort of a gateway drug,” Becky says with a laugh.
What’s really impressed her is watching her 12-year-old and his friends learn more about animals and biology.
“They’ve learned about genetics—recessive genes and dominant genes—because of crossing different-colored eggs with each other,” she says. “We’ve also learned some minor veterinary stuff when they’ve gotten injured.”
Fresh eggs are a plus, too. When there’s a surplus, Becky often gives them to co-workers and friends. She also likes to donate to people in need.
But the absolute best part about owning chickens is watching them live their day-to-day lives like a reality show, Becky says. She watches them seemingly argue with each other. Other times, they all pile on top of each other into one nesting box, even when several other boxes are available.
“They’re so funny,” she says. “I love to watch these chicken dramas play out.”
Are You Ready for Backyard Chickens?
Tending your own chickens can be a fun-filled, educational hobby. It’s also a great way to get eggs. But owning chickens is still a big responsibility. If you’re trying to decide if backyard chickens can work for you, consider these points before jumping headfirst into the chicken lifestyle.
Local laws and neighborhood regulations. Check for the latest rules on chicken ownership in your city and county. Do the same if you live in a neighborhood with a covenant or a homeowners association. Many cities limit the number of chickens allowed per household and prohibit roosters entirely. Often, cities require chickens to be kept enclosed and in well-maintained coops that are cleaned frequently. Don’t rely on hearsay or a neighbor’s knowledge. Check out the rules for yourself. One more thing: If you decide to sell your eggs, ensure it’s legal where you live. Many local and state governments have rules about selling foodstuffs.
Expenses. Keeping chickens isn’t cheap. Even small-scale chicken farming requires ongoing expenses after buying or building a coop and fencing. Consider that a 40-pound bag of feed can cost $25 and up, depending on the brand, nutritional value and other factors. That might last a handful of chickens a month or so, but it won’t always fulfill all their dietary needs. Extra proteins and treats, such as dried insects, can get pretty pricey too. Some cost up to $50 for a 5-pound bag. In addition, chickens require fresh bedding, such as pine shavings or chopped straw, every time the coop is cleaned.
Care. While caring for chickens isn’t a full-time job, you still need to spend some time doing it. Most people adopt a daily or twice-daily routine for feeding and watering. Many times, chickens need to be let out of a small coop in the morning and herded back in at night for safety. These things are important to remember before you take a vacation. In addition, chickens can fly. Some people prefer to clip their wings regularly, while others choose a run with fencing or netting overhead.
While it’s not a pleasant thought, it’s important to remember that almost every carnivore and omnivore in the animal kingdom likes the taste of chicken. Chickens are susceptible to predators, such as hawks, foxes, raccoons, opossums, coyotes and even cats and dogs. They can also get sick, and there might not be a veterinarian in your area that accepts them.