The Chick And I

on second thought by Claudia O’Brien

The Chick And I

Jerry was a great buddy bird. He followed me everywhere!

You’ve probably heard somewhere that chickens are getting to be popular pets these days. You may even know people who keep chickens in their backyards.

If you’re thinking about doing that yourself, whether it’s for the fresh eggs, to create an educational project for the grandkids, or because you don’t like your neighbors very much, please do your research. There are quite a few things you need to know about before you fall in love with your first fluff-ball. Also remember that not all neighborhoodsallow chickens, and some areas specifically prohibit roosters. You know why.

That said, I can tell you first hand that chickens can make great pets!

WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I received a baby chick for Easter one year. I knew he was going to arrive because I’d overheard my mother talking to a neighbor. She was telling Mom to make sure she picked out a natural-colored chicken. I’m not sure if it was because they were healthier or because they weren’t gaudy. It was sometime in the 1950s when dyed baby chicks in various shades of pink, blue, purple, and green were all the rage.

I named my natural-colored chick Jerry. He was a great buddy bird! He followed me everywhere. I played with him mostly outside. I can’t claim he was potty-trained, but I don’t remember any messes in the house.

I’m sure he was allowed inside sometimes,

though, because I remember running around the dining room table with him fluttering behind me. He was a pretty smart chick because he figured out how to cut between the table legs to the other side of the table and get in front of me. He and I both thought that was hilarious.

My mother didn’t drive, so I walked or rode my bike everywhere. As Jerry got older, he rode around town with me in my wire bike basket. When he outgrew that, he took over one of my handlebars. He was quite good at balancing and when he was about to lose it, he just let go and fluttered to the ground.

Oh, and he loved Coca-Cola. I’d hold the little bottle at just the right angle and he’d glunk it down. If he saw someone holding a coke bottle, he’d sidle up and make motions with his beak that he wanted some. It probably wasn’t the best nutritional choice, but he lived a long and healthy chicken life.

When our daughter Joanie was little, she received two chickens one Easter that she named Flopsy and Jerry II. Steve built a very nice little coop with a fence around it for them in our Sarasota backyard and Joanie was diligent about cleaning, feeding, and watering her pets. Sadly, however, when Jerry II began crowing we had to find both chickens a new home out in the country.

Bottom line: Chickens really can make terrific pets, but check out what you need to consider before deciding on giving someone an Easter morning surprise. There’s lots of good information online. Williams Sonoma is a good place to start.

And maybe soon you’ll have a little Jerry of your very own.