Do You Ever "Get Smart" With Your Chickens?

[PepsNick]

Meaning- calling them names, being rude, rolling your eyes, etc.

Yesterday I had to chase Zucchini (EE) around the yard for a long time, and it was impossible (at least I don't have to worry about hawks with her!). Then, I picked up Pepper (BR), a real sweetie, and gently carried her back to the coop. As I did this, I stick my tongue out at Zucchini. Is this just weird? When they tip their water open, I call them fat clumsy birds. When I open the run, and they try to run out, I call them pasty chicken butts.

Is it just me? LOL


EDITED TO ADD: I love them a lot, most of the time, though. ;P

 

[canada-goose]

Not really, but I do talk to them and (sometimes) I expect them to understand me.

 

[Mahonri]

I don't think I've ever verbally abused my chickens.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I might call them some creative names,especially when they have made me chase them down to get them into the coop. I don't think they take it personally as long as I keep feeding them treats.

 

[Illia]

I've verbally abused my Blue Wheaten Marans rooster before.

After so long of him recognizing me as the godess of bringing beautiful hens, then a break of me just bringing food, he's suddenly disliked me. So, while trying to get him interested in a hen by luring him into the breeding pen, and getting fed up with how cautious and slow he's responding, I decided to just try and round him up. . . Bad idea. Ended up chasing him for about 15 minutes through really deep muck, lots of twigs and branches, even ended up hitting my head on their ramp up to the coop while trying to grab him, ugh! So much work. He now hates me. . . . And I'm a bit fed up with him.


Otherwise no, I never verbally or physically abuse my poultry.

 

[stoutfamily]

Yes, I do. I had a BR hen who always gave me attitude so I often had to get smart with her and chase her around the house. She would always come in and if I wasn't giving her treats or enough attention, she would go sleep on the guest bed where she knew she wasn't supposed to be. Such a brat!
I have two chicks now as well and usually I just call them brats. Don't want to insult them lol

I guess we also would tell her if she didn't quit, wed have to eat her... but of course we weren't ever planning on it!

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

I know a guy who gave his hens a gentle "swat" on the upper thigh area (I saw him do it and I doubt the chickens felt it at ALL) for getting in his flower bed. He also shook his finger in their faces and berated them for digging up his wife's (not my husband, a friend) flower bulbs. And do you know, the rest of last summer after the "correction" those chickens stayed away from the flower bed? Keep in mind that these chickens LOVE this guy. Follow him around, sit in his lap, etc. Even now.

 

[Chickengal505]

I used some.... creative words when dealing with a mean rooster. Otherwise I just tell them that some specks on the eggs would be nice and I fuss at my current roosters for being so sexual. My babys.... their hopless, look at little frankie the frizzle being sassy and pouting in the corner

 

[Red&Yellow]

Absolutely! I usually call them 'loons' or 'loony birds', and that's when I'm being happy.

A 'you crazy birds, I'm a gonna eat you' is reserved for when they actually do something, like eat eggs or swquak at me.

 

[GammaPoppyLilyFlutter]

Oh course I do that! They're so sassy- who wouldn't call them names? Though a lot of the time I just call them "stupid chickens" or tell them how tasty their drumsticks look (joking- they're my pets). Then they look all scared and offended so I tell them I'm joking. My head hen, Poppy, is especially sassy to me and tries to tell me that she's boss all the time. So I scoop her up, flip her on her back, and cradle her like a baby. It would be cute, but she gives me the stink eye the whole time