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Chickens are not noted for living long lives (although some few do), so the idea that someone would grow out of their interest is not unreasonable. Doesn't mean they dump them, just that they either find other homes for them or not replace them as they age and pass. Now typically one would expect to see signs of waning interest--less time spent with the birds, more time spent on alternative activities/hobbies, etc.--which is clearly not the case with the OP.
Chickens aren't the only 'phase' animals though. Dogs, cats, horses, llamas, pigs, all can be seen as simply a 'phase' by onlookers who will ask when you'll give them up and 'get a real life'. There have been numerous posts about people finding drop off animals, sometimes ill treated, obviously abandoned because the owner didn't want to bother with them anymore. Look at specialty animals, like wolves/wolf hybrids and jungle cats, that get left to die tied to fences, telephone poles or left in cramped cages, because the owner couldn't take care of them or the novelty wore off.
I'm waiting for the day when my Mom asks me when I'm going to quit playing farmer and go back to pursuing a career choice I made at 14.
I changed my mind after I found out that most people in the field I like are pompous, self important jerks that I wouldn't want to work with. I would rather have it as a hobby that makes a little extra side money than a career. Farming has better odds of making me happy without starving, and has more practical life skills applied to it.
