Poll: How did your partner react to you keeping chickens?

[3KillerBs]

Yup, that's how I learned to watch hockey, and how he learned to water plants in a garden.

*nods*

Ask me about WWII submarine warfare. I never got the hang of baseball though (and he's not much into Nascar so we're even on that).

 

[Brooks_]

She wanted them. It's not that I was against chickens, more that I didn't want the cost and effort of a coop/run, eggs aren't a staple here, and we don't like white meat. It seemed unnecessary to me. Then one day she told me: "Well, they're ordered...you better figure it out.". Now I regret not saying OK when she was first asking 4 years ago. Eggs still aren't a staple and we still don't like white meat, but the coop/run is done and I spend a lot of time thinking about how to make things bigger and better.

 

[kodster]

Within weeks after we were married in March of 2012, I said I wanted to start being self-sustaining as far as our food supply was concerned. Told him I wanted to have a flock of chickens, mainly for egg laying. He was okay with it, as his previous wife and he used to raise poultry (mainly meat chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks... muscovies, specifically). It was my idea entirely, and he was a little hesitant, because I'd never done anything like this, and was 55 at the time. However, I had done my research prior to marrying him, and I had always intended to get chickens but the opportunity was never right. Now, everything was perfect. Ordered 15 birds, and from there, it was on. I'm now up to over 50 birds, all egg layers, 25 'chunky monkeys' meat birds that he just found out are getting HUGE at 4-1/2 weeks, and 7 Silkies. He's realizing we've got a chore for us in two to three weeks... processing at least half of those jumbo cornish rocks (the cockerels) and then a couple of weeks later, processing the pullets... spreading it out so that we're not overwhelmed.

I said I wanted to be self-sustaining! We've got a mud room full of eggs, too... freeze dryer, do your stuff!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

When I said I wanted chickens, he said we had to get ducks. So we got baby chickens and baby ducks for our first flock. I had never had ducks before, and now I absolutely love them.

 

[Double Yolked]

Husband doesn't talk a lot. When I started discussing chickens he just kinda listened, nodded and grunted a few times. Then I told him I wanted to fence the back so I could put in a small flock. Waited... he bought fencing. Cool, I thought he's fine with it, he does like eggs. Er, the first time our local feed store ran their new chicks? He marched in and bought 8 Barnvelder chicks! And built a custom coop. A man of few words and loud actions. I can't leave him alone in the feed store now when the new chicks are in. He always wants to try a new breed.

 

[Scrat]

started with rescued ducks ... My sister found them abandoned And as I live in the country she " suggested " I adopt them !!! They were adorable !!! But we built a nice coop and large run , Fort knoxx style !!! When they were killed by Raccoons ( Arrgghh !!!) We were approached by somebody who wished to not care for their chickens over winter we were asked " your coop is empty" why can't you just let them give you their small flock ??? Sooo, we now have a small flock, not as fun as ducks !!! But ... Easier to maintain, give eggs, I love baking ( husband was allergic to duck eggs ) have compost for garden etc etc.
It's the pecking order with the more docile birds that upsets me, the larger orpingtons victimize the smallest Bantam till she screams and hides !! I've taken to making escape areas where there is feed available so she can eat unmolested, and will try to get chicks next spring to replace the large aggressive ones, then rehome those two to a friend that free ranges hers.

 

[Aquira]

At the beginning of lockdown last year, my husband wanted to buy a video game. As a partial/mostly a joke (I didn't think he'd accept lol) I said if he gets the game I can get some chicks. I ended up also buying the game and would play it while I hung out with the chicks lol.
He has one hen he cares about a lot. A few he enjoys. One of our girls hates him unfortunately. But he's still nice enough to help me with the water and such.

 

[MrsPeterTHooper]

It was my idea and I did all the research. My husband was accepting, but I wouldn't say excited. He built the coop and pen but I did the majority of the work for the first six months, until I got pregnant unexpectedly with our third child. At that point he chivalrously took over. Our baby is now 6 years old and the chickens are still "his girls" and love him best!

 

[3KillerBs]

I've taken to making escape areas where there is feed available so she can eat unmolested,

Clutter, escape areas, and multiple feeders/waterers out of sight from each other are always good.

 

[topochico225]

I got rid of my partner and then got chickens.