Does your chicken love you?

[MissChick@dee]

Awww...sorry if anyone's hurt. Not my intention when I asked the question. I've always had the feeling that...well, take a dog for instance. Rex is a dog who lives his life on a chain. He has food and water and a dog house but that's it. He doesn't know his owner other than as a food bringer and the owner pays no additional attention to Rex. Maybe he got him as an outside-only watch dog. So the owner is not bonded with Rex and vice versa. He sees nothing special about the dog and to him Rex is "just a dog''. Rex has not been what I call 'cultivated'.

Bingo is a dog who lives inside mostly, with outside when he asks to go out or has a walk or etc. He gets a lot of attention - toys, play time, brushing, baths, cuddles on the couch. His owner learns how to read the dog's feelings/emotions/needs. He can read the dog's facial expressions, set of his ears, body language. Bingo is a family member. He's loved, and loves his owner in return.

Would Rex's owner say his dog loves him? No. Would Bingo's? Yes. I have not experienced (yet) an opportunity to 'cultivate' a chicken or chickens. So that's why I asked the question - to hear how people responded...their own experiences and thoughts. But we all experience life in a different way, and I don't think that anyone is 'right' or 'wrong'. Just different...which is good! I don't want to see people get upset or feel bad or hurt or anything negative! We're sharing ourselves, right?

Wasn’t for you at all

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@MissChick@dee - I agree with that. I can't count the times I have seen gratitude and joy when an animal realizes you're there to help them. In particular, I recall an older woman that brought in an elderly Golden Retriever to board with us. He had just lost his male owner, and his housemate, back to back. He was so depressed- you could see it in his eyes and mood. I remember buying him a stuffed animal and bringing it back to him at the clinic, wrapping him up in a blanket with the intent to bring him comfort. For a few years afterwards, I enjoyed hearing from his owner with letters and photos- she said he kept that stuffed animal in perfect condition. He greeted everyone at the door with it in his mouth, and never tore it up. Maybe it's just the fact it was a toy for him, but I like to think it brought him some happiness in a rough time.

 

[Nats Chickens]

Aww