AITA for not wanting small kids to chase/ handle the chickens?

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

So I was at a cookout yesterday, and the kids of a family friend, as well as my little siblings, wanted to play with the chickens. They were chasing the chickens around the yard, cornering them, and picking them up. One of the Rhode Island Red girls seemed very stressed, and had puffed up the feathers on the back of her neck in anger. I got into an argument with my mom, who kept insisting that it was a “learning experience”, and that I should “let the kids have fun”. They’re technically my mom’s birds, but I take care of them, and when they’re upset, I’m upset. I just don’t think a bunch of 5- 10 year olds should be treating the animals like that.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Not at all. I gotta get locks for my coop and run before Thanksgiving when we're gonna have a whole herd of kids over because some of them are not good at following instructions when it comes to animals. It's not gonna be a "learning experience" so much as a traumatic experience if one of those chickens decides their only option is defence and draws blood.

 

[RojoMarz]

IMO, a 5 year old (much less a 10 year) should know to not chase animals. If they were at my house, I would stop the behavior. I would try and catch one of the calmer hens and allow the kids to hold/pet her. After that, I'd tell the kids the chickens are "off limits"... obviously I have no qualms with correcting the kid's behavior .

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

IMO, a 5 year old (much less a 10 year) should know to not chase animals. If they were at my house, I would stop the behavior. I would try and catch one of the calmer hens and allow the kids to hold/pet her. After that, I'd tell the kids the chickens are "off limits"... obviously I have no qualms with correcting the kid's behavior .

good idea. once I get a job and start paying for the feed, they will be fully my chickens. until then, I have a Buff Orpington who is rather calm, and I'm thinking she would be the one they can pet.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

"Learning experience" my eye. The kids need to learn boundaries, respect and obedience. @RojoMarz has a good idea, but in my situation, I do not have a chicken I can catch and use as a Public Service animal for children to pet. If the kids would not respect my wishes I think I would a) round them up and park them in front of the tv or b) ask their parents to round thrm up and take them home.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Of course, @Chicken_tiger_catt , the big difference here is that I am an adult and can make and enforce the rules. Good luck to you.

 

[TesoroSena]

So I was at a cookout yesterday, and the kids of a family friend, as well as my little siblings, wanted to play with the chickens. They were chasing the chickens around the yard, cornering them, and picking them up. One of the Rhode Island Red girls seemed very stressed, and had puffed up the feathers on the back of her neck in anger. I got into an argument with my mom, who kept insisting that it was a “learning experience”, and that I should “let the kids have fun”. They’re technically my mom’s birds, but I take care of them, and when they’re upset, I’m upset. I just don’t think a bunch of 5- 10 year olds should be treating the animals like that.

You aren’t the ah, you have boundaries that guests must respect and that makes total sense. When we have guests over before they are allowed to touch any animals we show them how to be nice to them and tell them if they are mean they can’t hold or touch them anymore. If they are disrespecting the livestock it’s not a learning experience unless they incur consequences for treating them like that.

 

[DemeterAD9]

We teach my nieces and nephews not to mess with the chickens. They like to throw food to them and try to pet them when they walk by and that’s about it. The kids have all been told not to chase or run around by the chickens because it scares them. I tell them to leave the roosters alone or they’ll get attacked and I’ll have to kill the roo, that seems to help deter them!

My chickens are getting pretty tame and are used to the kids being around a few days a week so it hasn’t really been an issue... at least not until my oldest sister’s spawn comes to stay for weeks at a time. That may be a completely different story.

All I can say is it is best to get your point across in as civil a way as you can, explaining the hows and whys. Most 5-10 year olds should be able to understand your point. But sometimes it takes a louder voice for the young ones to get the idea. If they get pecked or hurt after all that then it becomes “I told you so” and maybe they will learn.

 

[McChooky]

So I was at a cookout yesterday, and the kids of a family friend, as well as my little siblings, wanted to play with the chickens. They were chasing the chickens around the yard, cornering them, and picking them up. One of the Rhode Island Red girls seemed very stressed, and had puffed up the feathers on the back of her neck in anger. I got into an argument with my mom, who kept insisting that it was a “learning experience”, and that I should “let the kids have fun”. They’re technically my mom’s birds, but I take care of them, and when they’re upset, I’m upset. I just don’t think a bunch of 5- 10 year olds should be treating the animals like that.

It'll be a learning experience if you have a rooster.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

If I'm expecting company that includes children, the chickens go in. I don't take chances with my birds. Chasing is definitely stressful to a prey animal!