Hubby shows lil' enthusiasm

[fiveladybugs]

I wish I knew!! My hubby tolerates my chickens and gardening at best

 

[cindylouNC]

Thanks for the view from an actual husband and you are correct for the most part actually....I think if he believed it would actually be beneficial to our home life or financial bottom line he would feel differently towards the project. I have put the project on hold anyway because of the combined opinions of others living here, husband, daughter, mother and our two lab/beagle mix canines....lol. Opinions may have stalled the build of the coop but they CANNOT STOP *said in a loud defiant voice (with my index finger pointed towards the sky)* me from learning all I can about chickens for my future build.

Thanks again though.

Happy pecking !

 

[frank53061]

Well I'm a husband and my wife does not want anything to do with the chickens or the turkeys unless it is a baby then that's different but still does not want anything to do with the flocks.
My daughter is more like me than my son she gets out there and helps with the building and the feeding and the poop scooping LOL.
Its always nice to have someone to fall back on or to help out.
I guess since I was brought up on a farm I'm wanting to relive some of those old feelings and wanted the same for my kids I guess that's what I get for marring a City girl at least she has adapted to living in the country LOL.

 

[jamesbwood]

There is at least TWO dudes here! Woot!

Cindy says that I am (mostly) correct. Think she will tell my wife that?

I'm city grown but good with animals. If 10 years ago someone had told me how easy chickens were to keep and how much fun they are, I doubt I would have believed them. The chickens were my project, talked over with my DW before hand. She likes them and is more involved then I expected.

 

[J-Sanders]

He will have to make the decision to be involved on his own. But it will depend heavily upon what type of guy he is and whether or not he works outside in a physical job during the day or in an office. Me, I am a special person so I work gas line work outside all day and come home to the farm in the evenings. I like the animals and what they save me in grocery bills. DW just likes pretty chickens and eggs. Princess Peanut, well she is special like her Dad. I can tell you what NOT to do. Do not try to coerce him into it, nor try to bait and switch him into it. Major ill will from that path. He may just be a bit jealous of them getting all the attention! Says the guy who is 23rd in line behind all the animals...Jim

 

[Mum]

My dh is the type to always

and gripe and groan over *any* new project I suggest would be good for us and the family. He's a real grumpy git! Everything is too much effort (and his is *not* DIY inclined or talented!).

So, I began small with just one ex-battery hen and bought what I needed coop-wise. So, not a very attractive hen that would make someone "ooh" and "ahh" instantly. To cap it all, she was so poorly and underweight, I couldn't even win him over with a fresh egg!

It was the hen, Silky, who won him over in the end: we were digging out the roots of an old shrub (dh digging, me shredding) and Silky wandered over to dh, climbed between his legs and started scratching where he was digging to grab the insect smorgasbord he was unveiling.

Fast forward to now: we have 14 hens.
Back in Spring, I decided I'd like a couple of ducks. He was

and

. Left it a couple of weeks and then while he was at work, bought myself a trio (already had housing). He returned from work, heard a bit of quacking ... looked at me ... and said: "I *knew* you'd do this!"

Fast forward: we have 14 hens; 7 ducks (2 we raised from an incubator) and 2 little ducklings in a brooder.

He is now known as "The Egg Man" at work because he takes our excess there. He's dead proud of their eggs, enjoys their antics, does all the cleaning out but, you'd never guess because he is a Grumpy Chin by nature

Equally, I'm going on a course in a few weeks, with our eldest son, to learn how to correctly cull and dress them for the freezer. Dh will have no part of that - he's too soft and that is perfectly fine by me. We play to our strengths

You know your dh best and if you really think about it, you will find the way which will work for you and your dh and not create any tension in your marriage: good luck

 

[darkmatter]

How do I get my husband to show more interest in MY new adventure ? I am trying to get my coop built and the run and he doesn't have the level of enthusiasm I do. Will his level bump up to my as we go along in the process ? How can I boost his libido for this project ? and chicken adventure ?

Thanks ya'll.......

I have the opposite problem, getting the Missus to buy in. So I did it anyway 25+ years ago. (Now the Missus complains when the egg production slacks off)

By the way, my profile has a link to my facebook where there is a garden and chicken album of adventures. Lots of my FB friends are chicken-related.

 

[redneckrabbitry]

As a husband I that thought it was "just a phase" I love that we have eggs to eat and chicken to eat and i think im more about the chickens and other fowl than my wife now.. at first i dragged my feet and thought it was "dumb" but she made me feel like a super hero with the kids.

But thats me

 

[scriptkiddie]

He will have to make the decision to be involved on his own. But it will depend heavily upon what type of guy he is and whether or not he works outside in a physical job during the day or in an office. Me, I am a special person so I work gas line work outside all day and come home to the farm in the evenings. I like the animals and what they save me in grocery bills. DW just likes pretty chickens and eggs. Princess Peanut, well she is special like her Dad. I can tell you what NOT to do. Do not try to coerce him into it, nor try to bait and switch him into it. Major ill will from that path. He may just be a bit jealous of them getting all the attention! Says the guy who is 23rd in line behind all the animals...Jim

Amen about the coercion part. that was a source early on in my marriage. I personally am more amiable in the morning. Waking up, I feel like I can take on the world! But at night, I just want to rest and not think of any more work, projects, etc. Unfortunately that is when my Darling Wife is alive and ready for anything. We now use this to each others' advantage. If I want to do something that will be a big change I wait until night when my DW is willing to talk and she has to wait until morning to discuss her ideas with me. Not perfect and takes a little more time for us but it works... at least for us.

 

[hennyannie]

My DH is the one who started the whole chicken thing at our farm. We both grew up on farms, but he had never had chickens. We always had a few chickens when I was growing up. Then one day some friends showed him and the kids their new pullets they were raising. Next thing I know we have 12 pullets and he is building them a barn sized coop. FAST FORWARD a few years and I am the main caregiver, he has to be reminded who got this started just to get him to pick up supplies and/or feed for me. I am glad I got back into chickens and really enjoy taking care of them, but I wish it was still a WE thing sometimes. On a brighter note he hasnt lost interest in protecting them from predators, he hunts all the time!