Emotional support animals are great companions that can help people who are stressed, anxious, lonely, or suffer from other mental health disorders. In fact, having an ESA is proven to reduce the symptoms of some of these conditions, especially if it’s a companion you love. That said, you might be wondering if there are limits to what an emotional support animal can be. While cats and dogs are the most common choices, what about an emotional support chicken?
The good news is that we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about emotional support chickens and how they can help.
What Is An Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
Emotional support animals are unique animals that provide comfort for their human companions. Typically, emotional support animals (ESAs) are cats, dogs, or sometimes smaller rodents, but even a chicken can be an ESA!
Ultimately, for an ESA to be valid you’ll need signed documentation from a licensed mental health professional. This can be your therapist/doctor, or even an online resource that helps you register an emotional support animal.
Once your emotional support animal is registered they enjoy special privileges thanks to the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which allows emotional support animals to live in otherwise not pet-friendly housing. This is ideal if you have an emotional support chicken or any other type of animal, but are worried about what your landlord might think.
Can A Chicken Be An Emotional Support Animal?
Yes, chickens can be emotional support animals. While it may seem like a strange option, chickens are known for being empathetic and social. In fact, they’re great at helping people feel less alone. This is perfect for people who need an emotional support animal to deal with loneliness, depression, or anxiety. Chickens are also easy to care for, so you don’t have to worry about complex routines or making sure they’re getting exercise.
Benefits Of Emotional Support Chickens
You’re probably curious about what the benefits of an emotional support chicken are over another type of ESA, like a dog or a cat. The best part about an ESA chicken is that they’re easy to care for and social by nature. This means they’ll have no problem keeping you company, and their food and exercise needs are low compared to other emotional support animals.
Another benefit of an emotional support chicken is that they lay eggs. This means that you can have a free meal here and there or even sell them for a profit. ESA chickens also work well in groups, so you can have multiple ESA chickens or even a little backyard flock if you have the space. For some people, interacting with a flock of animals and caring for them can be therapeutic.
Disadvantages Of An Emotional Support Chicken
There aren’t many disadvantages of an emotional support chicken, especially if you have the space for them. That said, some common disadvantages include the space requirement, which is often a backyard with room for a chicken coop.
Feeding chickens can also be expensive and protecting them from hostile animals can be challenging in some areas. For example, some regions may have foxes, outdoor cats, or even coyotes that may target chicken coops. Unfortunately, this can make mental health even worse if something happens, so it’s important to be prepared and know the risks.
At the end of the day, they’re often not the best fit for people who live in apartments or for people who need an animal inside at all times. You may also struggle to bring them out in public or gain permission from business owners to let them in.
Register Your Emotional Support Chicken Today
If you want to turn your chicken into an emotional support chicken, you’ll have to get them registered. While you can always work with your licensed therapist (if you have one), another option is to work with a trustworthy online resource to get your ESA letter. Not only is it fast, but online resources tend to be more affordable as well, especially if you don’t already have a mental health professional who knows about your condition.
Plus, when you register your emotional support animal with resources like USSA, you can always trust that the process is done properly. So, what are you waiting for? Register your emotional support chicken today!
