So, I emailed the editor of a magazine...

[gritsar]

after they featured a piece by a humorist that made chickenkeeping sound like the worst kind of torture. I've read this gentlemans stories before and I know his story on chickens was in jest, but I feared that a newbie, considering owning chickens for the first time would be really put off by his comments, such as comparing a chicken's intelligence to that of a turnip, smelly coops and brooders (lined with newspapers *gasp*), hens fouling their nests, and mean roosters.
I was in "a mood", so I set them straight on a few things.
I just got an email back. Actually the second email from the publisher. The first email apologized if his story offended me. It didn't and I told them that.
Today's email said they wanted permission to publish my email. Said they felt it was important that their readers hear the happy side of keeping chickens and felt my email would open up a dialogue to that end.
I'm kinda happy about that.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

So which mag and what was your e-mail?????

 

[b.hromada]

Good for you!

I think its great you said something. We don't want anyone to think raising chickens is a bad thing. After all, someone may not know the guy was "kidding", right?

 

[Rillion]

Cool! If you have links, I'd be interested to read the original commentary as well as your response to it.

 

[gritsar]

b.hromada :

Good for you!

I think its great you said something. We don't want anyone to think raising chickens is a bad thing. After all, someone may not know the guy was "kidding", right?

That's the way I feel about it. I've read this man's sort of tongue-in-cheek humor before, but still someone might take his comments the wrong way.
It's GRIT magazine. The editor said my email would be featured in the mailbag seciton of their November/December issue.
I took issue with his comments about chickens intelligence. Yeah, they aren't the sharpest tools in the shed, but they can learn what a chicken needs to know; also a comment about their survival instincts. How they aren't smelly if properly maintained and how to keep hens from fouling their nests.
Also, about how a mean rooster had two chances around here. Be reformed or re-shaped, into potpie.

 

[gritsar]

I did a search of the author's name on their website and brought up alot of his stories, but not the one on chickens I took issue with.
The website address is www.GRIT.com

***By the way, on their homepage, if you'll look in the upper right hand corner, you can register to win a coop they are giving away.

***

It is one of my favorite magazines.

 

[Camelot Farms]

 

[canada-goose]

Neat! It sounds like they actually CARE! Maybe you have the magic power of being able to get polite replies. I never get any replies.

 

[StupidBird]

Hey Gritsar, now you can brag that you've been PUBLISHED.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Uh, yeah. As I said, I was in a mood that day. I deleted my original email after I received their first response, so I'm not sure of everything I wrote.
Let's hope that I didn't make a total fool of myself.