How do you deal with the chicken haters?

[gryeyes]

Luckily, I have no living relations to talk smack to me about my chickens.

However, people at work say things I don't think are intended as nicely as I respond to them. Like "There's our littler chicken farmer!" and "You're such a hillbilly!"

Yup, that's me, I response with a smile.

 

[NWChicks]

Quote:
I'm in the PNW too so just know you're not alone here! We all understand the addiction, er...um, I mean "hobby"?

 

[HHandbasket]

At first, I think my sister thought I'd lost my mind, but then a friend of hers who has backyard chickens gave her some eggs & she wants her own now. I'm hatching her out some chicks this next week to give to her at the end of May & we are putting together a small mini-coop for her to put in her backyard for them. She's taking 3. In her city, they can have 2 & I explained to her about "chicken math". She thinks that's crazy too, but wait until she has her own fuzzybutts in her yard! She's actually getting excited now about having them & has been asking me a lot of questions about how to take care of them, etc., and she won't even have them for another 2-1/2 months!

 

[Cass]

Oooooooooh...she lives with you...in that case tell her that there are no nursing homes for chickens so they get to stay....jury is still out on her.

 

[WhySayWhat]

Yup...my family thinks I'm crazy too!

But, everyone who has tried to get me to change my mind has done so with a story about "being attacked, viciously, by a chicken"...in every story, that "chicken" has been a rooster. Yeah, I have one of those too...and the scar on my leg from when an Aunt's Rooster got his spur in me when I was 3.... I point out that one, I'm only getting hens, and two, they don't know how the rooster was treated by the owners. My BiL says his family had chickens until the rooster "almost killed" his mother. I doubt that, I've met his family...they're a bunch of spoiled rich people...helping their son is something they do not do unless they absolutely have too...

Most of the "chicken haters" I've come across are just ignorant and/or have one bad experience from decades ago that they are basing all of their comments on. My mother goes back and forth about being excited about them and thinking I'm crazy, lol. She had a rooster as a pet when she was a kid (ended badly for the roo). She's bringing my 5 year old nephew up mid-April to see the chicks I'm getting though (on 3/16).

 

[pkw]

Why breed dogs??? There are too many dogs and cats in animal shelters, many don't find homes and die everyday because there isn't a family to adopt them. My inlaws all hates chickens but they sure like getting eggs from my chickens. My family doesn't like chickens either. My daughter asks me if that is all I have to talk about is chickens because that is indeed almost all I talk about. I don't have a job that pays money. I take care of the dogs and chickens and household duties. My chickens listens to me better than humans and my dogs love me unconditionally.

People can really stress you out but you can go outside and hang out with your chickens, dogs and whatever other animals you have and you can talk to them and feel better. I like talking to the people on here because we all love our chickens or we wouldn't be here, right?

 

[SuburbanFarmstress]

I have a purebred Bichon Frise, but the only way I would make money from breeding her is if I bred her over and over until she was worn out. Just thinking about treating my baby that way makes me want to cry! She will have a couple of litters when she's older, but only for our family to have the experience of raising puppies (I've never had puppies in the house). What I make from selling the puppies will hopefully cover the costs of breeding her, vet bills and such. But unless you're running a puppy mill, your are likely to spend more on your dogs than you would make.

My mom never wanted any pets when I was a kid, and I don't think she realized how much that hurt me. I love animals! I couldn't have any living in my last apartment, but within six months of buying our first house, I've gotten a puppy, an adult cat, seven fish, and (as of yesterday!) five chickens. I told my mother seven years ago that what I wanted in life was to have chickens. She thinks I'm nuts, but now that I'm grown up and pay my own bills, my life is mine to lead, and if I choose to spend my time caring for animals and hundreds of plants... Well, there are far worse pursuits I could be spending my time on. And while my mom doesn't understand my love of animal husbandry, at least she isn't hostile about it. More like resigned, lol!

Next time it comes up with your mom, I would say something like this:

"Mom, you know I love you, and I respect your opinion. But raising chickens is a wholesome hobby that I get a great deal of enjoyment out of. If you do not want to be supportive of a harmless pastime that I find very fulfilling, that is your choice. But please show me the respect of not bringing up this subject anymore."

What one person finds enjoyable, another may find dull or incomprehensible. If you don't see the value in another person's hobbies, you should have the courtesy to keep your mouth shut about it. To do otherwise is incredibly rude. Plus, variety is what makes the world interesting! If everyone raised chickens as a hobby, the world would be a boring place. Luckily, not everyone is cool like us! LOL!

 

[Knittycat]

My Mr is so funny about the chickens. He was supportive of the chicken idea, although he thought I was a bit nuts. (he's right you know) Especially since I've got them in the front room while we finish the coop. But its absolutely ADORABLE to watch him with the chicks. He's so gentle and sweet. He talks to them, clucks at them, and reprimands them when they're 'bad'. He even got up and checked on them last night when he heard some odd cheeping.
Never underestimate the power of fuzzybutts to convert the skeptical.

 

[GhostRider65]

OH My
Take heart dear, chickens haters are ignorant people especially if there family, because family should stand with each other and not judge them for there likes or ideas, but be kind and supportive no matter what, and how much you dislike something others are doing is silly , So what it isn't your concern.
What is wrong with the world these days anyway? who could hate a cute little fuzzybutt........who turns into a beautiful chicken.
I know exactly how you feel though my parents passed in 2007 and 2009, both lived here for my care for years while they were sick, but always found ways to negate my animals
they cost too much, there dirty, smelly, useless barking pooping machines, ect ect ect. even my oldest son upon hearing about my new critter fuzzybutts project for this year, first thing out a his mouth was how much is this adventure costing you? I just lied said a 100.00 bucks which in reality is about the cost of my sweeterheater LOL the chicks themselves were around 90 bucks so that's 200 right there, now add the coop/run and my brooder and add another 3 or 4 hundred. I really don't care I don't drink, I don't go out and waste money on eating, movies, fancy new cars, It's my money anyway and too bad if you don't like it. I ignore most of it, and when pushed I push back. I pay this 1000.00 a month mortgage, electric, phones, ect until you do shut the hell up!! is my usual reply when I'm ticked off.
Over the years I've taken slack for my dogs the cats, horses, animals I rescued, like bunnies, birds and 1 old horse. My way of living is always negated, they hate my country life style, and think I'm and insane hillbilly. I don't care.......... my dream is too get out from under this stupid huge amount of bills/debt and be a self sustaining farm off the grid sometime in the future, then they'll really probably have me committed.......hehehe.
I really think part of it is jealousy because I ain't living the way society and they live, or how they would have me live. I been there done that for 30 years all it's ever gotten me was debt, headaches, and misery and 2 wrecked hands from blown tendons and carpel tunnel, I had to quit working at 36 and live on my s.s disability. I figure I worked my hands to death working two jobs to pay the man, now I can live how I can and do what I want for a change, I'm much happier this way.
Just smile and say yup I love my chickens and if you keep pushing my buttons about them I'll give them your room. I said that to my dad once, only insert horses instead of chickens, he was quiet for a bit after that.

Best of luck and have fun with those chickens. Kim

 

[joeyg4583]

Try not to let it bother you too much. My mom is weird about my chickens too. If I meet her for lunch or to go somewhere she says I smell overwhelmingly like a chicken. The funniest thing about it is it is often when I havent even been out to see the girls that day and my clothes are fresh out of the dryer

I think sometimes Moms just like to feel like they are in control even when you are grown up.