Written by Elliott Coombes // Photo by Macy Cox
The Searcy Neighborhood Pet Shoppe recently added backyard chickens to their stock. Customers can buy baby chicks to keep as pets and chicken coops to house them. The chickens are provided from a local breeder.
Employee John Sherwood and his wife initiated the decision to get the chickens for the store.
“We saw some really cute chicken coops that were available and thought, well, if we’re going to have chicken coops, we could provide a couple of chickens,” Sherwood said. “We don’t sell many, just a few a week, for pets.”
Since the chickens are meant to be pets, Sherwood tries to get fancier breeds. This includes Polish chickens, who have an impressive feather hairdo, and the current stock of Welbar chickens. Welbars are admired for the dark brown color of their eggs. Sherwood said he is actively searching for an additional breed.
“The next one I’m looking for is called an Easter Egger, or an Araucana,” Sherwood said. “They have a green-colored egg, so when I sell out of these, I’ll probably get one of those.”
Cathy Wood, another Pet Shoppe employee, said she loves everything about chickens.
“My grandkids love them; they make them smile,” Wood said. “And they keep all the bugs out of your yard.”
Employee Tanya Salace owns several backyard chickens and has come up with lots of ways to play with them.
“I paint the nails of my chickens,” Salace said. “You have to be careful of the color because they’ll peck at red … I dress them up, and they have coats and clothes and hats. So yes, they are my babies. When I walk outside, they come running.”
Salace said she also uses parrot toys like treat balls and rope bridges to entertain her pets.
“I’ll put their little herbs through their xylophone, and they’ll peck them,” Salace said. “And they make music, so I think it’s more for me than them.”
Sherwood said chickens are another way for people to get outdoors and in their gardens more.
“I think we wanted everybody to have the opportunity to enjoy chickens in their backyard,” Sherwood said. “They’re very popular. It’s more than just a backyard supply for eggs, they’re now pets that people love and talk to and enjoy just like a rabbit.”
Sherwood said anyone wanting to own chickens cannot get just one.
“They always have to have a friend,” Sherwood said. “It’s the minimum that you should get two, but it would be even better if you could get four. And be ready to have fun, because they are great pets.”
