Family doesn't understand....

[animalgrl]

I hear you. My mother, who grew up on a small dairy farm, can't understand why I would take a chicken to the vet. She also says to me on a semi-regular basis, "why don't you just get rid of that dog?" (Said dog has behaviorally problems, but I've had him 9 years. I like my dog). Also, I'm pretty sure all of my coworkers think I'm crazy. And I've never understood people who claim to love animals and then relegate the dog to the backyard 100% of the time and say things like, "it's just a dog." We're a different breed and other people just don't understand. I learned a long time ago that I'm going to be me and I don't really care what anyone else (especially my family) thinks about it.

 

[LI chickie]

Every time I step out and head toward my chicken coop, husband says I'm going off to my "other family." And he hassles me about how I must prefer the chickens company to his. It's mostly teasing, but I stopped chicken talking with him. I enjoy sharing the silly or new things they do, but I try to keep it to myself and simply feel satisfied with the chicken things I get to witness, and all the hard work I put into it.

I adore every aspect of my chickens and coop. It's hard to get others to feel the same way.

I tell him my chicken stories to keep him in the loop I'm always happy when he asks me how many eggs did you get today. Every once in a while when he goes in the backyard I catch him looking at the chicks.

 

[Blooie]

Had lunch with my extended family today and was so excited talking about the progress on my chicken coop and run from this weekend. I grew up in a very rural area and we raised pigs growing up so I thought they would get it. They didn't. They picked at me about everything...from the fact that I said I wouldn't eat my hens once they went broody (at least not the silkies), to the fact that I will not let them free range b/c there is a dog across the road that puts them at risk, to the fact that I told them that when I do let them out, i want the bonded enough with me to be easily taken back to run. It really hurt me that my own family would act like that. Oh well, I am just so excited that our coop and run are almost done and I can get my girls!!!!!

I'm still trying to get past this.....why in the world would anyone think that once a hen goes broody she's dinner? Are broodies better eating? Or not worth keeping after they've raised their chicks? I don't get that line at all.

I figure it like this. My daughter is "into" vintage motorcycles. The older the better. She has a new old 'panhead" that she thinks the whole world - including me - should appreciate. The longer she talks, the more my eyes glaze over. Makes me glad she's 700 miles away and talking to me on the phone so I don't have to hear, "Ma, you just don't understand anything I try to to tell you!" Those days have been long over!

 

[lazy gardener]

I think the reason they say that a broody is not good for anything other than the soup pot is b/c she's no longer cranking out that daily egg. (like some sort of vending machine. Cracked corn in, egg out). This is the same mentality that ascribes to butchering the entire flock after their first season of laying. When... in actuality, it's the SECOND season that is the most productive. Yeah, most people just don't get it. And... so be it. I'll continue to enjoy total immersion in my hobby with or without the approval of others.

 

[donrae]

Send all those "useless" broodies to me! I'll treat them like Queens and let them be mommas to their heart's content

 

[N F C]

Send all those "useless" broodies to me! I'll treat them like Queens and let them be mommas to their heart's content

Hey wait a minute...aren't you the same @donrae that said no more chicks??? I knew you didn't mean it!

 

[Blooie]

Yeah, I caught that too, NFc! Shame on you, Donrae - shame on you!

 

[N F C]

@Blooie you think we ought to tell Honey on her? Or maybe, with the right motivation, we could be persuaded to be quiet, lol.

@donrae you are busted girl!

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

Don't let it get you down. If you don't raise chickens you just don't get it. My friends and family and coworkers all think I'm chicken poop crazy and call me the crazy chicken lady... but I could care less. Keeps my mind busy keeps me busy. You know what they say haters gunna hate... I just tell them to go suck on a store bought egg

 

[nchls school]

My guess is that many of us have said, "No more!", and then got more in the next few days. I'm guilty of that this week.