Disagreements over chickens

[GoodGuinea]

I imagine the details would matter a lot in this instance, what would you say is your biggest disagreement? Since you mentioned management is it like over their housing or feeding? the raising of them? I agree with RojoMarz though it's usually best to find a middle ground or compromise

Well, our current disagreement is that he was moving gravel in our yard, and decided to spread a bunch in the chickens' run. He figured it would help drainage. From what I understand, gravel isn't great for them to walk on. He thinks I'm being silly, that chickens aren't that picky, and it'll be fine.

It's usually stuff like that. He keeps saying, "My parents never had to Google every little thing we did with our chickens."

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thats not even all of them we have 6leopard frogs, 4 Russian tortoise's, 8mice, 2gecko, 15crayfish and about 20fish and they are all inside to

Oh wow! and I thought I had a lot of animals

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I mean, you're not wrong, but neither is he. If you're keeping your chickens for just their major productive lifespan it probably won't matter much. But long term it could be a bigger issue with bumble foot or joint issues.

So this really depends on what sort of reason you're keeping the chickens for. Are they livestock? Or pets? If some of them are pets than the whole environment should be pet worthy otherwise the pet chickens will suffer. Livestock chickens will only benefit from an improved environment like one built for pets, but it won't matter much if you eat them at 3 years old anyway because that's before they start commonly developing health issues.

So I would work on uniting your management around your goals.

It's also worth noting that best practices change over time. So googling lets you update your knowledge. I still google wound treatment at least twice a year to make sure I'm up to date.

 

[Abriana]

My dad was raised on a farm where animals were definitely strictly practical. He would never let my sisters or I have cows or pigs for pets—those are 100% farm animals to him that are not for fun (we have two cows and are getting pigs—all meat animals). But he has a soft place for the chickens because I love them so much, and he has been more than willing to even pay a vet bill or two (or three XD I think it had been four times we’ve called/gone to the vet).

I think it’s important to have a discussion before getting the animals to learn where either you and your spouse/you and the other primary caretaker stands on the status of the animal. My dad made it clear that the cows were for eating, not pets, before we got them, and that had helped me keep the right mindset. But the chickens are pets and are treated as such. Everyone comes from
different backgrounds and has their own ideas of how certain animals serve their purposes, and it’s important to take into consideration both opinions and work out a compromise (I have my pet birds, you have your broilers, I care for mine, you care for yours, they do not mix. We are getting meat birds and my dad and I have worked out how we can both be happy and both get what we want) and solution.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Just last night I heard, "I didn't know you were going to go a**hole crazy with chickens"
The chicken math is real!

***What is a**hole crazy? First time I've heard that one but I assumed I'm becoming a crazy chicken lady.

Oh between my 10yo daughter and I chicken math is out of control but I can't work due to medical reasons so I take care of all of our animals house work and most of the yard work so my hubby really doesn't complain to much but when the inside animals do something nutty he goes bonkers about all of them as for the a**hole crazy idk my husband stopped counting a while ago cause it just made him mad and our daughter can talk him into anything not our boy's just her thats how we got 24 more chicks he took her to get a new waterer for the quail (it got dropped and broke) and she batted her baby blue's and got what she wanted

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think they should probably be okay with some gravel but you could always compromise and put some leaves or wood shavings or something soft on top and leave the gravel underneath for drainage.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Well, our current disagreement is that he was moving gravel in our yard, and decided to spread a bunch in the chickens' run. He figured it would help drainage. From what I understand, gravel isn't great for them to walk on. He thinks I'm being silly, that chickens aren't that picky, and it'll be fine.

It's usually stuff like that. He keeps saying, "My parents never had to Google every little thing we did with our chickens."

You are right rocks are not good for them to walk on rocks it can damage there feet if you put mulch on top of the rock it will be much safer and easier on there feet

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well, our current disagreement is that he was moving gravel in our yard, and decided to spread a bunch in the chickens' run. He figured it would help drainage. From what I understand, gravel isn't great for them to walk on. He thinks I'm being silly, that chickens aren't that picky, and it'll be fine.

It's usually stuff like that. He keeps saying, "My parents never had to Google every little thing we did with our chickens."

My issue with gravel is less about it being bad on their feet and more that poop will eventually get in between the rocks, get wet from rain or ground water, and then start stinking like there's no tomorrow. If that happens there's really no cleaning it, best you can do is remove it.

As far as the overall question, obviously each family/couple's situation is different. Hubby and I have a simple system - everything related to animals, house, property, food, money is on me (so basically everything), so the only input hubby has as far as chickens is "Can we get more chicks?" and "Here's some names I like." Works for us, we figure there's no arguments when 1 person makes most of the decisions.