can we have chicken cousins visit our flock?

[ravensnow]

I disagree. The use of the phrase "horrible conditions" and "why would anyone buy a coop at Walmart" were harsh, unneccesary, classist and judgemental. If she meant it as a joke, it wasn't funny from my view. I picture the poster having a large house, a large property, a large custom designed coop and run and no other obligations but to watch and care for her flock. Poor people who shop at Walmart raise chickens all the time with great success. Hens can be raised in very limited space on limited means. I think most of us have seen photos of "horrible conditions" for raising hens- my sister's store bought coop and suburban back yard are hardly "horrible". I honestly wondered if the poster was an adolescent because their world view sounds so limited...

I don't plan on responding any more in this thread, but I did want to acknowledge that you quoted/responded to my post. The post we're referring to with the Walmart comment still seems to be bringing up an emotional response from you, so it doesn't really seem productive to dwell on it. Some of your criticisms in the second sentence of the quote above are valid, but look at how much you're projecting onto this poster (everything after the third sentence in the quoted part above). Are your responses (projecting their imagined means and imagined responsibilities and mentally aligning them with someone who is out-of-touch at best or even not "fully" developed at worst) not also classist in-and-of-themselves (or at least indicative of personal prejudice against a certain class that may be impeding you)?

As I said before, I won't be responding further to this thread. I wish you luck in adding more chickens to your flock if you ever decide to do that. I hope your sister was able to figure out a more viable chicken babysitting arrangement, as well.