My chickens make me happy!!!!

[max13077]

Who knew something as simple as having a few chickens around could make you happy!! My job’s kind of tough sometimes(1:1 aid for emotionally disturbed young man). Not really the job itself, but dealing with the physiological and emotional baggage that goes along with it.

You wonder sometimes how people can live with themselves after some of the things they do. My student was the target of unspeakable abuse by a man who received nothing in the way of punishment for his crime. There wasn‘t enough “evidence” and his lawyer got him off on some sort of technicality. I think about it and find it difficult to live with. I can’t imagine how my boy “Sam” we’ll call him, deals with it. I find the fact that he gets up each day and stands upright to be remarkable.

So how does this relate to chickens? Well they’ve been a bit of a therapy tool for me as of late. Sam has been having a hard time recently due to some as of yet unknown reasons. This in turn makes my days tough. I come home and the “chicky whickies” as I call them are often waiting with beaks poked through the fence. Sitting and having a chat with them might seem goofy, but I think it really helps.

I’ve been showing sam my chickens as they grow and change too. He’s seen them go from the brooder, to a wooden box , to the coop etc. He finds it all very interesting. I wish I could bring him out to the house but I guess that’s one of those no-no things, which I fully understand. I took some more pictures tonight I plan to show sam in the morning. I bet he’ll get a kick out of them!!

 

[CarriBrown]

They really are like therapy, aren't they? I love watching mine peck after a hard day (or weeks, as of late!).
Maybe you can take a chicken to Sam? Are you able to do that? Do you have a girl that is friendly enough?

 

[gritsar]

Max, I know just what you mean. I work at a group home for developmentally disabled adults, some of whom also have emotional problems. My chicks help me de-stress after work.
I'm not sure about the bringing him out to the house thing. His problems may be different than what I deal with with my "kids" (as we call them) or your laws may be different. Several of the kids have been to my house for visits and my dog has been to visit them. My cat was born there. The kids always ask for updates on my critters and I plan to take both my billy goat and Zeus (my roo) when he gets older. We all take turns taking the kids who's family doesn't visit them home for the holidays.
By law, the kids are allowed to own pets; but since our executive director is terrified of animals

she won't allow it; except for fish. Really cuddly right? I'm working on getting them a pet bird, a cockatiel or a properly trained parakeet. Maybe when she gets tired of hearing me gripe, she'll give in.

 

[NoelTate]

I wonder if you could get around ordinances against chickens by getting a doctor to write a note stating they are for therapy....if they reduce your stress and lower your blood pressure, that has to be considered a health benefit!

 

[max13077]

Quote:
Good idea!!! Maybe it would be worth a try.

 

[cantley2003]

I'm glad that others find their chickens theraputic as well. I'm A Guardian ad Litem and work with abused and neglected kids, well yesterday I had an extremely stressful situation with one of my cases and came home and went straight to the coop,never even went in the house. The chickies can always cheer me up with their antics.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

That last photo ought to make him smile!

 

[Cheep Mama]

Bless your heart for caring for this young man. Not everyone could do it.

 

[willowtreecreek]

I've just had my girls a few days. I love em!

 

[Ga Chicken Mom]

Wow! I admire all of you who work with children and adults who have emotional problems. You are kind and compassionate people - real heroes in my book. Yeah for chickies who make us happy!