Irrationally Upset with Chickens

[jupitereyes]

Anyone else ever lose their temper with their birds? While getting my ducks in before a storm rolled in, I had four chickens get out and run off. I managed to get two back inside the run, but couldn't catch the last two and had all kinds of mean things to say to them. I guess a neighbor I don't know well heard me and came to help. We got them inside but I am feeling very down and embarrassed by how angry I was. I was ready to walk away and leave them out there altogether.

 

[Mrs. K]

Let it go, your actions are louder than your words. They all got in. That is what is important. Give the neighbor some eggs.

 

[jupitereyes]

Thanks for replying. I feel a lot of shame about losing my temper but I'm going to try to turn it around

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Nah, I growl and bark angry things at the birds when they're being 'stupid' aka, acting like morons who have never seen a non-murderous human before or are consistentlyand purposely underneath my feet when walking, but as long as it isn't physical aggression towards them, it's not really that bad. Now, if they're making you miserable, that's different. But just being birds and getting on your nerves occasionally, that's probably really common honestly

 

[fowltemptress]

Nothing physical, yeah? Then nothing to be ashamed of, I say. Our neighbors are a ways off, but judging by some yelling I heard from their place they've definitely been an audience for me yelling my head off at the guineas in the evenings when the birds are being dupas about going back into the coops. I did feel bad for them when I realized they could hear me - the neighbors, not the guineas. With guineas, loud screaming is just how they do language and it doesn't bother them in the slightest. It doesn't help herd them in any faster, either, but it sure helps me blow off some steam!

 

[SourRoses]

I think it sounds pretty normal for all kinds of animal wrangling. There's a saying with horse training, they're a mirror for your emotions.
It's very hard to take action while feeling strong emotions and keep those actions from reflecting said emotions. It's easier to repress feelings when you are able to be still or quiet.
So it's a matter of practice and intentionality. I think probably anyone who's ever had an argument with an animal has lost their temper at least once.

Give yourself a performance review that involves the positive as well the negative. For example, "Good job not giving up on them. Or throwing something at them. It's clear you were trying to reach for more patience than you felt." and "Next time, let's do this better. It's okay to be mad, but yelling at the chickens probably confuses them since a loud voice can bounce around in the environment and they don't know which way to run to get away from it."

Being extreme with yourself (aka shame, guilt) doesn't help regulate your emotions since it's just adding more of the negative ones on top.
Understand that as prey animals, their instincts run slightly different to our predator instincts. We get on so well with dogs because they're social hunters and can understand many of our moods without translation.
In prey species, it gets a bit harder. They were meant to survive through panic, while we were meant to survive by fighting.
It takes practice to see how they're going to respond in a given situation. There are deterrents to going the way you want that a human is less likely to notice, like a fluttering leaf, an indirect path to the rest of the flock or coop, another chicken bumping something on their way past, the sounds of humans bouncing off the ground / other solid objects.
I really think Natural Horsemanship methods apply to chicken herding. lol

 

[tlcmurphy]

When we first moved here, our neighbor actually thought we had a dog named Dumbass.

I’m afraid to ask him what he thinks the chickens are named…

 

[jupitereyes]

I've been letting them free range while supervised this last week, and they've done pretty well going back in when it's time. I don't have a fenced in yard, but I want them to have plenty of opportunity to forage and feel free. It's just me though, so it's easy to feel like things are out of my control sometimes, but it's really an opportunity to brainstorm and try something different.
Huge thanks to everyone, it really helps to hear your perspectives. @SourRoses I really appreciated your point about prey animal behaviours. I do find myself wishing they were less reactive and more street smart but I can wish in one hand and, well... you get it

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have 3 dogs that take turns getting upset tummies, trembling in fear because of thunder, or feel the need to bark at 8 AM sharp on weekends just to check if we're alive. With all that aggravation, there's literally not a single thing a chicken can do to upset me.

On a more serious note, training your chickens in recall makes life a LOT easier. Even the flighty ones will come running if they think they're missing out on a treat.

 

[jupitereyes]

I have 3 dogs that take turns getting upset tummies, trembling in fear because of thunder, or feel the need to bark at 8 AM sharp on weekends just to check if we're alive. With all that aggravation, there's literally not a single thing a chicken can do to upset me.

On a more serious note, training your chickens in recall makes life a LOT easier. Even the flighty ones will come running if they think they're missing out on a treat.

Someone just mentioned recall to me, I am definitely going to give it a try