So...did any of you catch flack for having chickens?

[markandcindy]

I get a wide variety of reactions. Some people think it's crazy..."in the city?" but many others are curious and ask lots of questions, and I have even discovered several closet chicken-lovers even though they don't keep any. No matter what their first reaction was, though, many of my friends and co-workers ask me how the chickens are doing or if I have a recent "chicken story".

 

[Quinn4321]

Quote:
Why hello fellow friend! I also live on a small farm (18 acres, most of it horse pastures. I have a beehive, chickens, fish, wild geese and ducks that hang around, horses, dogs and cats. Everyone always asks if my bees attack me...... it gets on my nerves sometimes.

 

[lowry075]

I live in Orange Couny, California and I have two and we want three more. My high school students think it's hilarious that I have chickens.

I have found once people get their questions answered they are rather intrigued though. (Maybe I am deluding myself and they think I'm weird, but my girls are worth it).

 

[Hinotori]

All my friends must be country people at heart. We had to get a few extra birds because they wanted to buy some eggs from us since they couldn't have their own flock.

My family still is country folk mostly. My mom has been a small issue even though she's four hours away. She LOVES birds. They made pets of the laying chickens as kids. She's mad I didn't get more so I could bring her fresh chicken when I visit. It's turkeys she really goes on about. She really wants me to raise some. Maybe next year, I think a smoked turkey would make nice christmas presents.

 

[Tina D]

Yup, I caught plenty of flack! And as others have mentioned, I am thrilled that I am now old enough not to care what anyone thinks.

My FIL has had the most negative reaction, but he is about as far from country as you can get. Several people have made faces and mentioned that chickens are dirty, smelly, ugly, etc. Some said that they were a lot of work, and that after a month I'd be giving them back. LOL For the record, it's been 2 1/2 weeks, and I'm scheming about how to add 2 more hens to my flock!

Most people knew I was dying for a couple of backyard chickens. Since it took me 2 years to take the plunge, a lot of people were happy that I finally got them! People ask tons of questions, and just the mere mention of chickens usually brings a grin to their faces! My husband was a huge opponent to the birdies. However, when he's working out in the yard, he'll pick up worms and deliver them to the girls. He also grins while he watches them do their "chickeney things" around the yard. I've seen him.

 

[tn_hammock]

People are pretty used to my random ideas....so I didn't get any flack.

In fact, it was a foster child that stayed with us for awhile that suggested we get chickens. Apparently his family had some when he was little and he missed them. I did some research and found that they are great bug eaters and I was SOLD. We had a terribly tick problem at the time and so I has happy to find a "green" way to deal with it.

What I didn't realize was how much I was going to LOVE having them. All their fabulous personalities and comical shenanigans....AND we no longer have a tick problem!

 

[zengrrl]

People think I have def gone off the deep end. One of my co-workers is like "I don't get it". I say fresh eggs, she claims eggs are the store are .69 cents at the store. I tell her those eggs are old. Of course, she doesn't understand why I have eggs either.... I had a handful of coworkers, drs included googling Silkie chickens and ooohing and ahhhing over them. I mean who doesn't like the muppets?

 

[Pele]

Im glad Im not the only one who gets flak! Everyone looks at me like I'm the craziest person theyve talked to, but they immediately ask about getting eggs from me.

What gets me kind of mad though is that everyone thinks they're commedians and make jokes about killing and eating my chickens. I do NOT appreciate these jokes. You don't find me telling people how delicious their dog Fido is, and gee I know this recipe for dog, maybe I should come over sometime and eat their freaking pets....

ok more than kind of mad

 

[kemclaughlin]

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I think it's so cool that you would be so supportive with a foster child. I know that most foster parents really care, but this is above and beyond. What an incredible experience for that child.

 

[PepsNick]

Actually, I haven't. But one of the times that I went back to visit NYC (where I used to live) we told a friend who is a CNN news anchor about it, and she thought it was the strangest thing!