How do you deal with the chicken haters?

[SarahBeth9394]

This is so simple it's funny. Just say-you know we all have our hobby's, this is mine, and it's not up for your approval.

 

[arianna]

. You are not alone on this.
Most people who have never had or handled chickens, can not understand what WE, chicken lovers, can see to them. I have had "so call" friends who made fun of me and were sarcastic about my chicken hobby. Most of them I zoom out, and I usually turn to BYC for others like me, but there are some people that can break your heart with thoughtless comments

. I had my neighbor, at the old house, a lady in her 50's with back injuries and on disability, whom I help and was friend with for many years. I cleaned her house, I cleaned her front yard, I planted flowers...etc. Last year I moved to my new house and I bought my chickens. I continued my visits, until this lady told me that I need to go and see a physiatrist, because it is not normal to make pumpkin pie for your chickens. After that, she made fun of me in front of other people and often times she was sarcastic about my chickens. So I stop visiting, but it did hurt. This people can not, and will never understand that you can have a pet chicken. I don't understand why, when there are so many people out there who have much stranger animals for pets.

 

[galanie]

what a problem a disapproving parent can be. and how hurtful. just hang in with the knowledge that you have a healthy and healthful hobby. and learn from her what type of parent not to be. thats what I did. sorry for typing surgery on wrist yesterday.

 

[edgroger]

I really don't mind other people's criticism regarding my hobby. As long as I believe my hobby is healthy and its not giving me any trouble then I'm content with it

So what if make fun with us chicken lovers, at least we have something productive to do.

 

[sheaviance1]

So far, I haven't come across any chicken haters. I've had a few strange comments. I was so excited when I got my first green egg, and a co-worker told me that it was a strange thing to get excited about. I just smiled and said, not in my world it isn't. Then I asked her about her "strange" hobby that she talks about non-stop. It wasn't a dig, I promise, more of a reminder that we each have things that we are passionate about. Feeding my family wholesome food is mine. I see nothing wrong, at all, in appreciating the life that sustains you. I like being in touch with what I fuel my body with. I like knowing that my laying flock is healthy, happy, and loved. I take just as good care of my garden as I do my chickens. I hate to see a sick, undernourished plant too. If that makes me strange, so be it.

 

[train2110]

When we got our first chickens last year, my family was split into two groups, realy excited and why chickens. At the family reunion a few months later, most people ignored the tent, table , and chairs and hung out by the coop. My 11year old daughter took a sentry post by the gate to the chicken yard because she felt too many people where trying to go in and look at the chickens at the same time. She did this all on her own, amazing what simple things make you a proud parent!

My mother has her own chair set up next to the coop and run so when she comes out she always has a place to sit and watch the chickens, which she will do for hours at a time!

You could always tell her that she can have her own place. Bring the chickens into her room and move her stuff out to the coop, her own in-law-apartment!



Edited to fix spelling.

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:

That's too bad. I'm really sorry noone "gets it".
As for me, how do I deal with chicken haters? Simple, I don't.
Maybe my attitude stinks, but I really don't care what anyone else thinks of me having birds. It's none of their's.

 

[yoie]

Just let it go and keep going with your chickens. I grew as the animal girl, I raised and showed everything it seemed. I was was put in the yearbook "most likely to open an animal santuary for unwanted pets". And to this day I now have chickens, rabbits, dogs, and a parrot. The plus side to the knowlege of raising the animals is whenever someone has a question or small emergency I get a call of what I think they should do! I even get calls from my couisin who is a veterinarian about rabbit and bird questions, because I know more on these topics than her! So don't mind the hate now, it all comes around and they will need your help with chickens one day, they are just to addictive!!

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

Quote:

When she was first planning on moving in here, we got A LOT of jokes about putting mom out in the coop with the ladies! Luckily, her living with us is not a permanent situation. Another few months. I'm also fortunate that other than my mom (and really, I don't care what she says...I just need to come up with a snappy come back) most people in my life either think it's super cool or they just kind of giggle at me.

A few people in this thread have responded that they really get a lot of grief about their chickens. That sucks.

 

[lauren6]

I just got a few more chicks last night and I know my mother will have something to say about it

I dont tell her stuff and dont have much to say to her anymore cause it seems like all I get back is negativity. Its sad but I just try to be more aware of how I am with my kids so I dont make them feel like that.

At the end of the day chickens make me happy and life is to short to not enjoy it