Rosie is scaring me

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

yes just pick her up and give her a little hug. i sit down, pat my leg and my buff orpington rosey comes running and jumps up in my lap. she puts her little head between my neck and my shoulder and will drift off to sleep from time to time. i love my chickens. i do have a roo that is getting a little to big for his britches. he flogged my daughters leg 2 times today.

 

[mrdruids]

i envy you, im having a hard time getting my girls to let me pet them, and your hens trying to win you over

 

[gale65]

the3ofus+oursixchicks :

yes just pick her up and give her a little hug. i sit down, pat my leg and my buff orpington rosey comes running and jumps up in my lap. she puts her little head between my neck and my shoulder and will drift off to sleep from time to time. i love my chickens. i do have a roo that is getting a little to big for his britches. he flogged my daughters leg 2 times today.

haha! I couldn't do that-it would completely freak me out. I envy people who don't worry about germs and stuff like I do, and I know logically it makes no sense, but I simply could not ever have a chicken put her head on my shoulder. My nerves would be shot! I think most people just simply don't understand how anxiety and phobias can affect someone. My dh doesn't but he is understanding and supportive and tries his best to reassure me a lot. I actually raised chickens about 20 yrs ago and at that time had no problems but sometime between now and then I developed this phobia and at times, it rules my life.

Quote:
that is awesome that you buck up and go do that. Funny that needles are something that don't bother me a bit. In fact I can stand and watch while someone gives me a shot or takes blood, but my oldest sister is like you. It's fascinating to see how someone can be so afraid of one thing and not another and another person can be the complete opposite.

Thanks everyone, for the support. It took me a long time to get to where I am now.

I still have my definite systems to keep me sane but I think I'm getting better.​

 

[Cockadoodledon't]

Agree

Quote:
I agree!!!!

 

[Barnmaradotte]

it's cool how sweet and loving a chicken can actualy be. When we first got chickens my wife want that excited. Turned out she had never liked birds. Even when she was a child. Well now, she loves them. She named all but 2 of them. She buys bulk raisins every week, she hears the slightest noise and has to check on the girls. She came from work in the middle of the day to find the first egg!!!! But she still won't pick them up. And that's ok. The chickens are ok with it. They all flock to her for a visit. Its cool. they can feel loved without being picked up. Im sure you and the hen can find a happy compromise.

 

[N&MSchroeder]

You might want to put on a long sleeved shirt and pants before you try interacting with your chicks so you don't get scratched. You also might feel more protected if you carry a towel or coat. Your chick that wants to jump on you may just be viewing you as a higher roost.

I had one who would fly up and sit on my shoulder and it did startle me the first time. She only did this a couple of times and then quit as she grew older. If possible, sit down on the ground with them, even if you do this through a fence or other barrier. I think you will find that your chickens just want to hang out with you and will probably lay down and go to sleep after they thoroughly explore the situation of course. I do this so they don't always think of me as the food bringer. Good luck!

 

[jj126]

Love on those babies.

Our chickens are all super friendly and my kids tote them all over the place. I think it's all pretty cool. Our chickens are clean and they come running when we walk out back. They come up on our porch and sleep at our sliding back door. I have never had chickens before but I am hooked on them. I really do love our chickens. As weird as that sounds.

As a former anxiety sufferer I can relate to how you feel but until you get to the ROOT of the anxiety you won't be able to overcome it and whether or not you realize it your kids will pick up on it. Trust me...I suffered for a few years with it until I was delivered. Now I look back and can't believe how I viewed the world. When I had my anxiety I was a HUGE germaphobe and I commend you for at least getting the chickens. I don't think I could have pulled it off.
I used so much hand sanitizer back then it was crazy now I don't even use it. I don't even use anti-bacterial soap. My life has changed a lot since then...obviously!

 

[gale65]

Well she did it. She pecked my leg. First really softly but then all of a sudden she did a full on skin-picking hole-making peck. OUCH. I jumped a little and she did too.

Then I went in and washed my leg.

to the pp-I don't use antibacterial soap (haven't for years) but we do use our fair share of hand sanitizer. But since it is not believed to contribute to resistance like soaps are, we don't worry a lot about it. My kids have picked up on it a little bit but I'm careful to explain to them that the way I am is not normal and people all over the world have pets, including chickens, and aren't like me and they are fine. The kids are not freaky like me. They will pet the chickens and not be freaked out. They are very good about always washing up after using the bathroom, when coming in from outside, and before eating. Otherwise they don't worry about it and honestly I'm not even sure they do that great of a job when they do wash. lol