Anyone ever criticize you about having to many animals...

[FrizzlesRule]

I had people put me down because I LOVE my chickens. Some of them rude kids and others are just insensitive and animal haters. Those kind of people I like to avoid.

 

[PineappleMama]

Well that's just a bit rude. I could understand maybe if you weren't taking proper care, couldn't afford feed, etc. Then for the sake of the animals I might say something. But you sound like a good owner to me. They're healthy enough to be producing good healthy food that's safe for human consumption so that says a lot right there. You gotta love hypocrites. No reason at all for you to give away free food to people who insult you. Maybe if they aren't getting that good, fab tasting free food for a while they'll actually appreciate it... that line about don't know what you've got 'til it's gone? Enjoy that yummy duck and eggs yourself, and wait for them to ask POLITELY.

I get comments from my Mom and In Laws because we have three dogs and one gerbil. We wanted A dog, so we adopted Mattie. Janie and Lily were sort of dumped on us. We love them, but it wasn't a planned thing. In any case, since my mom is the one who bred HER dogs to get Janie and Lily it seems a little stupid for her to gripe about them being here... yeesh. And my MIL... right now they've got two dogs and three cats and two birds... and they're in deep financial straights so I don't reckon they've got any room to talk.

 

[MuranoFarms]

When I married my DH he had 1 dog, I had 1 dog and 2 cats. His father has teased us about being 'animal hoarders' since then. I have no idea who would consider 2 dogs and 2 cats 'hoarding' but...whatever. I just rolled my eyes and laughed at him. When we moved to the farm and got a big dog to guard the place, he asked if there was a limit of animals we could have. In the middle of farm country on 25 acres...Ummm NO there really isn't! lol Then when we got the Guineas, he came to help DH build the coop....making his comments the whole time. When the chickens hatched, he had more to say about hoarding animals. Finally when the duck hatched I said "I better go check with the township and see what the maximum number of animals I can have is!" and gave him a big smile like 'gotcha' He just laughed that time.

I wouldn't mind if he said I have 'too many' animals, that's just an opinion. Saying I'm a 'hoarder' though....seems so insulting. Our total is: 3 dogs, 2 cats, 16 chickens (all under 2 months) 3 full grown guineas and 1 duck. We have 25 acres and every animal is spoiled rotten!

Truth be told, I could have a dozen cows, a few horses and a pack of goats and still be within my space limit. DH and I make enough $$ to pay the bills and the kids AND the pets are spoiled rotten, so why shouldn't we have the animals if we want? I think some people just like to complain!

 

[TheDuckCrew]

yep! here too! granted i do have a dog, two cats, two ducks and a frog (i won the frog in second grade, im still trying to find her a home) my parents are always complaining that the house is overrun by animals. the cats stay out of the way, mostly going from the basement to outside, the ducks live outside, the frog lives in a fish tank, and the dog is a tiny old shih tzu. doesnt seem overrun to me! im constantly getting we look like a zoo, i don't see anything zoo like here! lol

 

[ugly ducky]

Ignore them all! We used to get all that opinionated crap, but now, they just leave us alone. Our daughters each get a half a beef for Christmas every year, our freezer is full, and we sell eggs online, birds at swaps, and have regular customers for our Quail. Hubby's job was eliminated over a year ago, and he hasn't been able to find anyting yet, so our animals keep us in food and some cash to keep our heads above water. At our age (61 & 59), we're active and enjoy our life as it is. What more can you ask for? Our choice for a day out is to go fishing, trail riding on our horses, or visiting our other animal loving friends. We don't go to bars, never been involved in drugs, don't cheat on each other, and our grandkids love coming to visit us. Sometimes I think the complaints come from jealousy over the fact that we do love what we do. I haven't punched a time clock for over 30 years, but always have some kind of income from my animal "addiction". Yep, we work hard for what we have, but at the end of the day it's a good kind of tired, and we've actually accomplished something that has a direct impact on our life. So, do what you love, and love what you do....it's the only way to go!

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I want all of you to be my next door neighbors. You are too cool!

 

[froggie71]

Sure do. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but it does when my MIL has something to say. MIL lives in a mobile home and has 4 cats and a dog (used to be 2 until 1 recently died) and she feeds a stray cat that constantly comes around. We have 17 ducks, 20 chickens and 7 guineas that live outside . She likes getting eggs from them but always comments she thinks we have too many and she hopes we aren't getting any more.

Oh well, can't please everyone.

 

[Turkenlover]

I am so over my mother ragging on my for having "too many animals." I think she believes they will eat me in the night or something ridiculous. Anytime I complain about anything that goes wrong with one of them, I get the "that wouldn't happen if you didn't have so many animals" lecture.

HELLO??? Do you know what a basketcase I would be without them? I have been so depressed on some days that I didn't even want to get out of bed, but I did, at the crack of dawn, so I could feed my chickens and let them out. So there.

Animals are better than therapy any day of the week!!!

Here's a fun pic of my Chessies in our partially finished coop run.

 

[cwc362]

when I was younger some people in my family would say I needed to go to rehab for yard saleing , going to the thrift stores and having a lot of animals and plants. I would just politely say - yeah I'm gonna stop all those hobbies a nd get rid of everything so I can start going to the bars and the clubs again like I used to do . That usually ended the complaints and comments.

 

[MagsC]

My parents have been known to get a little opinionated,lol. Though lately they havent been as much. My dad, especially, complains about the dogs.(Even one would be too many for him,sigh.) I have pretty much learned to tune it out, he doesnt take care/clean up after them, feed them, veterinary care etc, they are well taken care of, so its not his concern.
They USED to complain about me incubating various poultry but have since come to see that as "useful".(they are both from big farm families)
I live about 40 miles from them so generally just go about my own business and try not to worry about what they think.