How much time to do spend with your chickens?

[slipperandpjsmum]

I was wondering how much time people feels it takes to look after chickens, taking everything into account. Thanks

It depends if y mean th clean out, which is half an hour a week at most,or the general staring at, admiring and playing with, which could go on for ages!

The general care. Admiring and playing with not included :)

I'd say no more than 10 minutes a day doing actual care plus the weekly clean but oh so many hours just watching

30 min clean and move hen house on a sat/sun. Then 5 m a day to put clean water and check food. Also need door opening every morning and closing at night. Could become a chore but kids love doing it. Also kids love letting them out and having two crazy hens flying/running behind them all over the garden. It's very satisfying. Would say it's best pet we've ever had. Very low maintenance really.

What a lovely thread, this has cheered me up!

I didn't add cuddling of and giggling at.

My Sheila escapes the run and stares at me through the back door wanting food. She's the chicken equivalent of a wire-haired terrier. I totally heart her.

I spend probably 10-20 mins a day on basic care, and then a half hour at the weekend to do health checks/main clean out. Hours and hours observing, though.

I clean out every day - although I know that people don't always. So about 15/20 minutes. The chickens probably could look after themselves but I spend a bit of time in the garden watching them dustbathe, hearing them chirrup/purr/bok-bok. Then there is the cuddling I want for my own gratification - then the finding of worms when we are gardening together...not to mention the show how cute my chickens are to friends...

What was the question again?

I know. Ours love to have a dust bath in the dry soil under the hedge and forrage for worms. Nothing better to lift the spirits than watching them argue over a juicy worm or slug! Never leave them unattended when out of run ( well there was one occasion when I forgot about them for an hour - I was having 1-1 time with my 4 yr old and playing a game!) when I finally leapt off the settee they were walking back down the road towards the house and ran to greet me!

About 15 minutes a day for feeding and general cleanliness.

Perhaps about another 15 minutes chasing them around, being chased by them, removing them from the kitchen/hall, sneaking past them to get to my car, talking to them and worrying about them