Is Blooie One Chicken Shy of a Flock?

[HighStreetCoop]

Okay, here's the deal. I read over and over again about chickens sitting on laps, coming when they are called, snuggling down for a little TV time with their owners, riding around on shoulders - and mine don't do any of that. Matter of fact, I don't want them to do those things. Am I nuts?

Nope. I'm right there with you. Mine don't do any of that and I would never want them to. If I want to snuggle while watching tv, well, that's why I have a DOG.

 

[perchie.girl]

Okay, here's the deal. I read over and over again about chickens sitting on laps, coming when they are called, snuggling down for a little TV time with their owners, riding around on shoulders - and mine don't do any of that. Matter of fact, I don't want them to do those things. Am I nuts?

I have solid, healthy chickens. I can pick them up if I need to check something. But I'm just as happy to put them back down, and they're happy to be put back down, believe me. I don't really want them eating out of my hand - I've felt the pain of a hard peck in the palm of my hand and I don't like it much. I like the fact that when I take the day's scrap bucket out they come to see what I have but they don't mob my feet until I trip. When I got out to gather eggs, they greet me at the door to the coop, see if I have anything, then go back about the business of being chickens, totally ignoring me. I like that, too. When I let them out to run around the yard, they split up in a few directions and focus on what they're doing rather than focusing on me. That's just fine. They all have names, and I know their personalities. Mathilda is quiet and shy. She hangs back to see what the others are doing and then joins in. Daphne is the flock complainer. She yells at one and all, but isn't aggressive. Gladys is just sweet. She watches everything and minds her own business. Scout - well, Scout is one of a kind. He's a good roo as far as doing roo-ey things, but he's getting a little aggressive toward the girls and bears close watching. As much time and effort as I put into saving him, I have no problem culling him if I have to. And so it goes - 10 adult chickens, 15 Littles and 8 Tinys, and not a real pet in the bunch.

So what is it about me that, as much as I like having chickens, I don't care if they like me back? To me it's okay if they ignore me. I take very good care of them, and in return they provide me with good, fresh eggs, an occasional bar-be-que, and lots of entertainment. I giggle at their antics, I worry when one is sick or hurt, and I take on the task of protecting them very seriously. But I just don't care that they don't fawn all over me. I don't want to "tame" them - I just want to raise them.

I can't be the only one who doesn't care if my feathered friends are "just chickens" instead of house chickens or lap pets. Not that I think those who do enjoy that relationship with their chickens is odd - I really don't. Folks who can put their chickens in the basket of their bicycles and take them for a ride probably have more fun with them than I do with mine. But I like the way things are here at Oleo Acres. So do I love my chickens less than other people love theirs? Well, truth is if you've ever read my posts you know that I always say that I "like" my chickens. I love my hubby, my kids and grand kids, my great grandkids, and my extended family. I like my chickens. Am I nuts?

I am exactly the same. I feed count beaks and tend them. Then I sit and watch. Its better for them to be left as wild as they need to be for their own safety. I will go the extra degree to help one tangled or caught and wounded. Meaning catch and Isolate to keep the other chickens from doing them in and give them their own food and water so they can heal.

Teaching them to come when called is about the only other thing I do with them. Helps get them out of the brush and home before the predators come out. But thats a husbandry thing. We have to make choices for our flocks since we keep them so concentrated in domestication.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

EGGcellent thread by the way.....

deb