Convincing my mom

[NatJ]

How are chickens easy to take care of????? Mine are far from easy. They need me to let them out of the run for at least an hour a day (usualy more), they get mad if I clean their coop or move ANYTHING, they have eaten all the plants in our entire yard, and they are so picky about what they eat but need to be bribed to do anything. They also steal my food and like to steal my beads. One of mine pulled off part of my shoe and tried to eat it a few days ago.

The choices you make can change whether chickens are hard or easy.

If the run is big enough, they do not need to come out. If they get upset when I clean, I consider that their problem not mine. They can't steal my food or beads or shoe unless I give them access to those things. Picky eating is typically a habit they develop, not an actual need.

Personally, I'd give them a big coop and BIG run, provide plenty of suitable food and water, and laugh at their demands instead of worrying about it.

Not saying that there is any problem with your way of doing things, as long as it works for you and your chickens, just sharing an alternative viewpoint. And yes, I exaggerated a little bit. I do enjoy interacting with chickens and spending time with them. But if I have things set up the way I like, they will be fine when I have a busy day or week or month. All I have to do is top up the feed & water and I know their needs are met.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Before you do anything else, make sure your local housing restrictions allow for chickens - all the parental permission in the world won’t do you any good if the local laws don’t allow them.

If you aren’t getting started pullets make sure you have a plan for roosters. Sexed chicks aren’t 100% accurately sexed.

As for time, the deep litter/deep bedding method might cut down on the cleaning time? An automatic door might help with early mornings too, but (I admit I’m making some assumptions here) I suspect one of those will be outside of your normal budget (they’re around $100-$200 depending on the model) unless you put it on your Christmas list.

 

[ThatOneWeirdPerson]

I've put a presentation together and presented it to my mother at dinner. She just yelled about how my research and notes aren't all right because "she raised chickens when she was little" (she's 47). She's still adamant that our dogs will get diseases from them, even though the coop wouldn't be in our fenced in backyard, but in the field behind it near my garden. It's not looking good, I'll be honest.

 

[C Siena]

yeah my aunt has chickens and she said that theyre super simple and very friendly! My next door neighbor has probably 15 outdoor cats, which might become an issue so I’d need to get a good sturdy coop for them.

Has your aunt every become ill from the chickens? Does she have pets and have they become ill from the chickens? Why does your mother think your other pets or humans will become ill?

Now should you wash your hands after tending the chickens/coop/run? Absolutely! I'm a bit curious if something happened to someone's pet that she heard/read of, that is making her fearful of chickens.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

When i was 17 i finally persuaded my dad to let me have chicks. I brought home an amaericana or two and two turkeys (and my then bf got a duck). One turkey was killed by a snake that was too small to eat it, the americana was mean so i gave it away, and the last turkey was eventually eaten by a very determined raccoon.
The duck lived for over 10 years at my boyfriends house and his mom was the one who ended up taking care of it. She loved that duck but it was a lot of work for her (she also had a cockateil and some budgies).

Im telling you this because in hindsight it was probably a good thing my birds were met with misfortune. When i turned 18 I left home and never went back, I had to be an adult and that takes a lot of time and money, and apartments dont take in chickens.
What would I have done if they lived to a ripe old age?

Now I am almost 40. I have lived a really fun life and got to travel and do awesome things. My dad wasnt stuck with a tom turkey to take care of and everything worked out.

I have found that when I didnt get what I wanted (no matter how badly), it was because I already had what I needed.
And if things do end up working out the reward is much sweeter because of the wait.

 

[Boba the Silkie Chicken]

And yes, I do know that owning a parrot will be easier than having chickens, but I’m willing to out in the effort to make sure they live happy and healthy

Parrots in my experience are just as hard if not harder to care for (if taken care of properly) That's not to say chickens aren't difficult to care for as well (recurring feed prices and supplements etc) . It just hurts my heart when people say parrots are easy.


All that to say chickens are great and if you can meet there needs there awesome animals.

 

[Penpal]

Your mother is the Queen of the house. She doesn't want chickens. Then there are all the cats.

When you are the Queen of the house you can have all the chickens you want. In the meantime, learn everything you can about breeds of chickens and how to raise them. Go to chicken shows. If you read the posts on this board you will find differing opinions on what to feed them, and lots on how to keep predators from them.

It won't be forever, but I see chickens being a contention your house and in fact a divisive decision between your parents.

It won't be forever, but you need to wait.

 

[ThatOneWeirdPerson]

Has your aunt every become ill from the chickens? Does she have pets and have they become ill from the chickens? Why does your mother think your other pets or humans will become ill?

Now should you wash your hands after tending the chickens/coop/run? Absolutely! I'm a bit curious if something happened to someone's pet that she heard/read of, that is making her fearful of chickens.

My two dogs had parasites a while back, we don't know why or how, but she thinks that they'd get them again if we got chickens. But no, my aunt had five or six big farm dogs that ran around with the free ranging chickens and they nor my aunt ever got sick or anything.