Keeping Chickens As Pets: A Growing Trend For City Dwellers

Maybe it’s a growing trend of getting back to basics, maybe it’s the economy. Whatever the reason, keeping chickens as pets is a growing trend even for city dwellers. There are even clubs for those who fancy poultry as pets, and competitive shows where owners can show off their beautiful Bantams. The clubs and shows are generally overseen by the American Poultry Association.

While regulations vary on chicken ownership from town to town, even many urban communities allow for a small number of hens. Many towns see roosters as too noisy (hello, annoying alarm clock) and/or aggressive to be kept in a residential setting.

Marci Riseman, mom of two, has kept chickens in her San Francisco backyard for three years.

“I consider our chickens to be somewhere between pets and farm animals,” she said. “It’s a strange relationship that I’ve never had before, and I find it leaves me with different expectations. We feed our cat and all we expect is love and a full litterbox; we feed our chickens and we expect them to produce eggs.”

Don’t expect to start a roadside egg-selling stand (which is probably also regulated in your town, by the way) with just a few hens.

“Right now we have three chickens, and are getting two eggs a day,” said Marci. “This means that someone is not laying. We can’t tell who the freeloader is, since they all spend time in the laying box; without a strategically-placed ChickenCam we’ll never know who isn’t pulling her weight egg-wise.”

“I love having these creatures in our yard,” said Marci. “They are beautiful those weird spindly feet are actually very graceful in motion … and the feathers, oh the feathers! and funny, and friendly, and they are a great live-action science experiment every day in our own back yard.”

Marci describes herself as “an urban homesteader at heart” who makes her own jam and sauerkraut and cooks or bakes most of what her family eats. She and her family also grow fruits and vegetables in a small garden.

“I would totally have a goat and an orchard and acres of blueberry bushes if we had the land and my husband wouldn’t divorce me over it,” jokes Marci. “Especially the goat. Just being with the chickens while I pull weeds or hang out with the kids or friends in the yard makes me happy. Chickens are a small way to bring nature closer in to our noisy, urban lives.”

I asked Marci if she and her family eat the chickens or just the eggs.

“We don’t eat the chickens. Partly because of the part-pet thing; the kids would be beyond horrified. And partly because it would be disgusting to slaughter our own animals, though I’m sure I could get over that part with practice. At first it did freak me out to eat something that came out of the rear end of something that lives in our backyard. It made me realize how disassociated we are from our food; I don’t mind eating something that comes out of the rear end of a chicken I can’t see? I got over it, though, and now I adore eating their eggs.”

If you’re considering keeping chickens, the first and most important step is to find out what your community’s regulations are. Your town’s public health department can help you with that. If chickens are allowed, you can use a tool like the “Which Chicken?” Breed Selector Tool at mypetchicken.com to help find breeds that are suitable for your climate and your interests.

For example, in my fantasy world in which I have chickens, I want a cold-hardy chicken that is docile and produces lots of fun-colored eggs. The chicken chooser tool recommends a chicken called an Easter Egger that lays four large bluish-green eggs a week.

A particularly helpful resource is backyardchickens.com, which includes lots of ideas about coops, owner reviews of a vast number of breeds, and a thriving online community in which to discuss and ask questions about laws, breeds, problem solving, and other issues. Their Learning Center section has great information for those just getting started, as well as long-time chicken owners.

The most amazing thing about chickens is that there’s a huge variety that are suited to backyard raising.






The following are just a few of the nifty birds out there:

Japanese Cat Owners Have Transformed a Popular Doll Bed from IKEA into Beds for Their Pets

The Duktig, a popular and widely known doll bed from IKEA, was cleverly transformed into beds for their pet cats and other pets by a few cat owners in Japan. Although the bed was originally meant for children’s dolls and cost $20 each, the Duktig was then modified by the pet owners to cater to the needs of their pets. Also, it has been designed by taking into consideration all the aspects related to cats. Both the ends of the bed are left uncovered, due to which they can easily stick out their tails whenever they wish to relax.

Also, the same bed can be used by other animals too. Rabbits and dogs have found the bed to be highly comfortable and are appreciating the bed. Also, a few pet owners have gone a step ahead and have converted the pet beds into bunk beds for multiple pets.

Meet, Disney, Britain's Smallest Puppy…Just Three Inches Tall

Meet Disney, a pocket-sized Chihuahua, who was part of a litter of three born on January 25^th, and hasn't grown since she was eight-weeks-old.

Standing at only three inches tall, and weighing less than a bag of sugar Britain's smallest puppy is so tiny she thinks she's a kitten.

She weighs just 14oz and can be carried around by owner Natalie Vanes, 26, in the palm of her hand.

The mother-of-one has to keep Disney away from her three other dogs at her home in Coseley, West Midlands, in case they mistake her for a toy.

As a result, Disney forged an inseparable bond with Ms. Vanes' pet kitten Kiera, and they have been best friends ever since.

Disney plays with kitten toys - as the dog toys are too big for her - and even pinches Kiera's food out of her bowl.

The pair also sleep together on a heat-mat in a special dog crate, which is kept in Ms. Vanes' bedroom, and can fit in a plant-pot together.

Ms. Vanes, who lives with her fiancé, Stephen, 30, and their five-year-old daughter, said, “Disney was a normal sized little puppy and was fed and reared by her mom, Tinkerbell, and didn't really need any special treatment.

“As time passed they both grew normally but they were quite small. However, their mom and dad are small so I wasn't too concerned.

Since then her brother has grown into a handsome boy weighing a little over 1 pound at 12 weeks, and Disney only weighed under a pound at 12 weeks.

That's when I realized how small she actually was. The unique thing about Disney is that she has never really grown since eight weeks old.

She is a normal healthy fun little puppy, full of energy, but just so tiny.

“I have to be careful when I take her out, I wrap her in a blanket because she gets cold, and there is no collar big enough to fit her.”

“She became best friends with Kiera, and they soon became inseparable. They stay by each other's side all the time. Disney plays with the tiny fluffy mice toys, as dog toys are too big and heavy for her.

She also enjoyed stealing Kiera's food, she thinks she’s a kitten and they snuggle up together all the time.”

Disney weighs the same weight as a five-week-old average Chihuahua, which currently makes her the smallest dog in Britain.

The current smallest dog in the UK is Tyson, a four inch, Lhasa Apso cross Chihuahua, who lives in Lincoln with owner, Rosemarie McLinden.

The world's smallest living dog is a female Chihuahua called Miracle Milly, who is 3.8in tall and weighs 1lb.

She sleeps in a doll's crib at her owner's home in Dorado, Puerto Rico.

Standing at a only three inches tall, and weighing less than a bag of sugar Britain's smallest puppy Disney (right) is so tiny she thinks she's a kitten, pictured with kitten Kiera (left).

The pocket-sized Chihuahua was part of a litter of three born on January 25, and hasn't grown since she was eight-weeks-old.

Owner, Natalie Vanes has to keep Disney away from her three other dogs at her home in Coseley, pictured with bulldog, Skye.


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Disney plays with kitten toys, regular dog toys are too big for her. She eats Kiera's food out of her bowl.

The pair also sleep together on a heat-mat in a special dog crate, which is kept in Ms. Vanes' bedroom, and can even fit in a plant-pot together.

The 14-week-old pup is on course to break a Guinness World Record for the smallest dog, if she continues to grow at the same rate, pictured with Summer Peters.

Disney only weighs the same weight of a five-week-old average Chihuahua, which currently makes her the smallest dog in Britain.

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Ms. Vanes said, “I have to be careful when I take her out, I wrap her in a blanket because she gets cold, and there is no collar big enough to fit her.”

Rochester, New Hampshire, Police Department: Cash Rewards Are Offered for Information that Leads to an Arrest/Conviction of the Person(s) Responsible for Throwing a Dog from a Car Window

Police are seeking information about a dog that was thrown from a car window near Norway Plains Road in Rochester, N.H., on Wednesday. The female pit bull mix looked as if it had just given birth to puppies, according to a statement on the Rochester Police Department’s Facebook page. Although the dog looked thin and had some scratches, it appeared “to be okay,” the statement said. The dog is under veterinary care in the police holding facility. Rochester police asked anyone with information about the dog or its owner to call the Rochester animal control officer at 603-330-7122.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE ME?

On 4/29/2015, this female pit bull mix was reportedly thrown out the window of a vehicle (possibly a dark colored Cadillac) near Norway Plains Road. The dog appears to have recently given birth to puppies. She is thin and had some scratches, but appears to be okay. She is currently being held in our holding facility under the care of veterinarian, Dr. Moon.

If anyone recognizes this dog, knows her owner, or has any knowledge about this crime, please contact our Animal Control Officer at 603-330-7122.

You can also provide information and remain anonymous by calling the Rochester Crime Line at 335-6500 or Text to: CRIMES (274637) Body of Text: TEXT4CASH + your tip. Cash rewards are offered for information that leads to an arrest.

Could Your Kitten Not Covering Her Poop Be a Behavioral Issue, or Medical Problem?

Most felines have a knack for depositing their pee and poop in one spot, which they then cover up from prying eyes. So why is it that some cats dislike the idea of concealing their feces? Two experts weigh in to give us the scoop on kitties who refuse to hide their poop.

Dr. Melissa Bain, assistant professor and service chief of the Companion Animal Behavior Service at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, says the exact reason why felines cover their feces isn't fully understood, but one theory speculates that the behavior developed to prevent parasites from becoming more prevalent.

Could Not Covering Poop Be a Medical Problem?

Although Dr. Bain says that there's no specific medical reason why a cat would not cover her waste, she stresses that “any medical condition that could cause pain or pain associated with the litterbox, such as a urinary tract condition, could cause a cat to not want to spend time in the litterbox.”

Dr. Katherine Houpt, a certified applied animal behaviorist at Animal Behavior Consultants of Northern Michigan, agrees with Dr. Bain, adding that cats who have recently been declawed or who have a painful paw infection could be averse to scratching and covering their waste.

Could Not Covering Poop Be a Behavioral Issue?

“Primarily, it is behavioral,” says Dr. Houpt, who has specialized in animal behavior for more than 30 years. But there could be several reasons behind it.

Lax cat parenting may be one culprit. Dr. Bain says that some cats never learn as kittens to cover their waste.

Another reason: Certain cats will not cover their waste because they prefer to eliminate in their own territory, Dr. Houpt explains, noting that even an indoor cat who's lived in the same place for a long period of time still may not feel as though the home is truly her territory. “Some experts feel that a dominant cat will not cover," Dr. Houpt says. "The smell lets other cats know ‘I’m here.’ ”

For some felines, the litterbox itself can be an issue. “It could be the 'wrong' kind of litter for that cat, or it may be too dirty,” says Dr. Bain. "It may even be that the litterbox is too small for the cat to adequately turn around inside.”

Dr. Houpt adds that a dislike for a certain type of litter can often lead to avoiding the box entirely. “A cat who doesn’t like the litter will often not dig before it eliminates, and she's more likely to be a house-soiling cat,” Dr. Houpt says. “She doesn’t like the feel of litter and prefers the feel of the rug.”

What You Can Do to Get Your Cat to Cover Her Poop

Dr. Houpt admits that this isn't the worst problem a cat owner can have, but there may be ways to combat it. Once you and your vet have ruled out any medical issues, such as tender paws or painful elimination, you can start by trying out different types of cat litter.

In the case of multiple-cat households, adding more litterboxes throughout your home might also help because it increases the number of territories. In fact, having more than one cat can actually be a benefit. “Sometimes one cat will cover for another cat,” says Dr. Houpt.

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12 Of The World’s Most Massive Animals

In America, we love everything that’s big. Whether it be our trucks, our land, our drinks, or our burgers, there’s one slogan that we like to live by: Bigger is better.

And it’s no different when it comes to the animal world. Whether it be a 300-pound snake, a 2-pound goldfish, or a pig that weighs as much as a truck, we’re impressed by the biggest and best!

Take a look at some of the biggest animals below. Most of them have been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the absolute biggest of the big among their species.

1. At 7'4" tall when standing on his hind legs, and 3'8" when on all fours, Zeus holds the record for tallest dog ever.

2. Trouble, the world's largest domestic cat, was 19" tall from shoulder to paw.

  

3. 13-year-old Blossom is the world's tallest cow, standing at 6'4".

4. Big Jake, the world's tallest horse, weighs about 2,600 pounds and is an incredible 6'11" tall! That's 20 hands!

5. It took over 100 people to finally capture this 20'3" monster.

6. Originally bought for 99 cents, this goldfish lived over 15 years and grew to be 15 inches long and weighed in at 2 pounds!

7. 9-year-old Romulus holds the honor of being the world's tallest living donkey. At 5'8" he's over 17 hands!

  

8. The largest living cat is the aptly named Hercules. An adult male tiger, he stands 4'1" at the shoulder and weighs 922 pounds!

9. Medusa, the world's longest snake, lives in Missouri and is 25'2" long!

10. This Chinese pig weighed 1,984 pounds before it died. That's a lot of bacon!

11. The world's biggest catfish weighed in at an incredible 280 pounds. That thing could eat you!

  

12. And Patrick! The world's largest and oldest Wombat: 88 pounds and 28 years old — this guy knows how to live!