Sometimes they aren't told. I think pet stores shouldn't sell an animal if someone doesn't have the basic understanding of its needs, and has housing for it. They just let people march out of there with chicks "for the children to play with" or some other daft reason. When you've got hundreds (thousands?) of babies being sold, it's probably unrealistic to ensure their welfare, but at least some people with no clue might listen and change their minds if they are given the truth about what they are taking on.
Of course not!! I totally agree people, specially new ones, often need guidance. I think when we say "addicted" we are not kiddingRght now I am not working, hubby semi-retired, never had kids, so the animals are the babies. I can see chicks from three windows in my house. I watch them day and night and spend time with them. But what happens if things change? I start work, some one dies, gets sick, divorced? I always have a plan B. If I go to plan B, I make a plan C. No one should be making hard decisions if they are upset and stressed and emotional. I like everything with animals thought out before hand.
God kept telling me to get some chicks, to be a therapy for me. I argued but He won, as usual, right? They make me laugh and bring me joy.
My expertise is dogs, with years of rescue work. Any time anyone had worked with rescue, we hear the stupid excuses.
Some one allergic
Dog barking all day while we are at work
Puppy chewing stuff up.
Too big and rowdy, blah blah blah. And I am afraid with my breeds, sometimes the dog is protective, owner does not LISTEN, and some one gets bit. I must talk to them politely and sweetly till I get dog back. Once that happens, I speak plainly, and you were just WAY nicer to me.) I highly suspect chicks are the same as puppies. "Oooh! He is do cute" Yes, they are ALL like that, then they are DOGS!
Things would go so much better if people would LISTEN. But as Ron White says, " You can't fix stupid." I vote you keep reminding others.
Lisa
make sure to put peanut butter on the electric fence....I wish I had known how tenacious raccoons are! We didn't lose any, but last night we found the mother inside our supposedly secure run, with her kits on the roof! She went through a 3" space above the door. DH is closing it up at this moment.
We will be putting up an electric fence this weekend. I don't have it in me to trap them and kill them, and relocating them makes them some one else's problem... And I no longer say how cute the darn kits are! My chickens are much much cuter!
@Lisa Wood Nearly the same for me. Unemployed and working temp when possible, Husband unemployed but doing freelance work 14 hours a day, last kid (of blended 5 kids) in college, I really had an empty nest. I always wanted chickens and so I got them despite my husband and father saying no to the idea of "rent a chicken".
Really??? I haven't figured out how to put the fence up so that it will work for us. Lots a brush and trees along the back and side of the runs, and several doors/gates.
When you get your fence up, put peanut butter on a section about 6 inches from the ground, the raccoon will smell it and take a bite - make sure it's electrifiedReally??? I haven't figured out how to put the fence up so that it will work for us. Lots a brush and trees along the back and side of the runs, and several doors/gates.
When you get your fence up, put peanut butter on a section about 6 inches from the ground, the raccoon will smell it and take a bite - make sure it's electrified
@Lisa Wood
Nearly the same for me. Unemployed and working temp when possible, Husband unemployed but doing freelance work 14 hours a day, last kid (of blended 5 kids) in college, I really had an empty nest. I always wanted chickens and so I got them despite my husband and father saying no to the idea of "rent a chicken".
Dad and DH are now completely hooked as well.
Sometimes you can only create the plan after things go wrong. I recently lost 8 chicks to a raccoon. They were housed separately in the semi predator proof run and needed to be locked in to their little coop. I went down later than normal to close them up. I was 20 minutes too late.
New plan: only house chicks inside the predator proof run. Except we found out that the raccoon could get into the predator proof run,,,
Newer plan: seal every single opening larger than an inch square. eventually we will add an electric fence.
Those birds are like my children and I'm not letting anything hurt them.
They really do make us laugh, and they bring me joy in the smallest ways.
I think that you are right about many things. We need to listen, we need to plan, we need to be flexible, we need not to judge, we need to be empathetic.
Nice to meet you!
