My wife is not a fan of roosters.

They can be aggressive with people, and they have sharp talons. Also, they crow, often in the middle of the night. Years ago we had a rooster that I named Colonel. He was never aggressive with me, and I easily slept through his predawn crowing. My wife never liked him. I still think she had him killed.

However, to keep my wife happy, and since baby chicks are cheap, I’m willing to buy the replacements every few years. From the start, chicks need to be kept warm, at up to one hundred degrees. We use a heat lamp, but the only place it keeps them warm enough is in the house. So, we have chickens in the guest bathroom. They’re all in a box, but we try to warn guests before they enter.

Over the years, I told my farm friends about keeping chicks in the bathroom, and most considered it routine. Beyond chicks, many have kept other livestock in the house, including piglets and even a sick calf.

I think I’m going to stop with chicks in the guest bathroom.