Re: Chickens as pets
Alberta, I kept poultry for about 40 years, up to about January 2007.
It began with half a dozen hybrids for eggs, but I really got to like them, so when I moved and had more space, I started getting more interested in the pure bred birds.
Over the years, my hobby increased and I got more breeds, then started hatching my own. If it was just a few eggs I would use broodies, but if I wanted to hatch a larger quantity I used incubators.
Later I increased to waterfowl as well as the poultry.
I think my favourite hens were the little 'Pekin' bantams, very docile, sweet tempered birds.
My favourite duck would probably be the 'Call Ducks', such funny little characters, but noisy. I never clipped their wings and loved to watch them fly, but they never flew away from home.
Favourite geese were the Brecon Buffs, no where near as aggressive as a lot of other breeds.
With the peacocks and Guinea Fowl as well, I had around 200 birds in the end, plus aviary birds as well!
I was married to a farmer in those days, so my birds had all the space they wanted. I had a digger in to make a big pond for the waterfowl as well.
When I moved to where I am now, it was the first time in about 40 years I had no birds, and it took me ages to settle without them.