What is SO WRONG with Chickens? Does YOUR family complain?

Nope, not alone... my MIL has always thought I was "off" now I think she may actually be researching "centers" for "people like me"

But her two dogs, three cats (plus the 4 in the cathouse outside), and two canaries... all on the SAME less than $30k per year... while having a $1200 mortgage and $500+ electric bills in summer is perfectly normal... and don't even get me started on the amount of Splenda that woman goes through... several bags (packets won't do) per week JUST FOR HER TEA (which is also especially expensive)

Hmm... well that got a bit long-winded but there ya go... it's a touchy subject!

 

My family only complains about the dust in the house from all the chicks I think they have just accepted the fact that all my chickens are pets and they are my passion. Same with my friends and people I interact with on a regular basis. Most of them think it's pretty cool and really enjoy learning and hearing about my chicken adventures. There are a few who raise their eyebrows and a few more who silently think I'm nuts, but none of that bothers me. I know I'm nuts

 

My mom used to complain, but once she started having fresh eggs in her fridge, she pretty much shut up.

 

^ Unfortunately that ain't gonna help with the In Laws... SIL pulls out the 'baby chicken' from every single egg... you know, that stringy part that's in the white.

Will NOT listen when I try and explain what that is and where the hypothetical (but not really in store bought OR our all girl backyard flock) baby chicken really is.

 

Yeah, my hubby keeps askin when I'm gonna be over this chicken thing, too. Its annoying. I sooooo feel you on the $ issue too. Honestly, the way I see it, chickens are a dang cheap hobby, all in all- No huge vet bills for spay/neuter, no vet vaccinations, free ranging or scraps from dinner mean the feed bill is low (feed is cheap when you only have a few birds, anyways) You can build a coop for next to nothing off CL- AND you get eggs from the hens and meat from the roo's (should you choose) It beats collecting jewelry,or cars or fur coats!

I'm sorry they are hassling you so much. Your post was well written and shows your not some dumb kid, why are they treating you like one? I know how you feel, just because my hubby is a bit older than me, he thinks he just knows better in just about every situation.

I say , just do what makes you happy, dont take their poisoned bait when they give you cr*p. Just smile and nod, and just keep doin what you want. Sometimes it wont matter what you say, other times the best thing you can say is whatever the other person wants to hear, whether you mean it or not- just keep doing what you want, what makes you happy, and dont let them get you down!

 

My Mom thinks I'm nuts, so whatelse is new, lol. She grew up on a farm and granny had chickens. My Dad loves to gather the eggs when he comes for a visit. He was just a laughing pulling out one big egg after the other. The he fussed at them when they came up 2 eggs short of 2 dozen, lol. Mom doesn't like that they get up on the porch and poop, neither do I but not a whole lot I can do about it without putting up a gate at the top of the steps and that wouldn't let the dog go in and out on her own.

My neighbors like the eggs they get so they don't say much, except for the one that the chickens flipped over all her mulch and ate her flowers, oops

 

Yup...My father pretty much chews me out every week and it's always about my chickens... He doesn't take care or them or anything and says crap about me not taking care of them and threatening me telling me that one day I'm going to wake up and there will no longer be any chickens at our house... Always saying he's going to kill them.....

 

Quote:Well I did put up a gate on the back porch at the top of the stairs. It's a bit of a pain to let the dogs out in the morning (means I have to get dressed), but ya know what? The back door has a window and my Lab mix was always jumping up to look in it so it's actually better that he can't jump on the door if he can't get on the porch.
What's so funny though, is since the birds can't get on the porch itself they like to sun themselves on the porch STAIRS every morning and leave tons of presents for me to walk through

 

You're defintely not alone!
I don't have to worry about my dh and kids, but my FIL.....oy, I know he thinks I'm a nutcase for raising chickens, eggs and going to the local farmer's market for fresh, grass fed beef and local pork. He won't go near any of it because it doesn't come from Harris Teeter. Honestly, WHERE does he think the meat or eggs come from?? A magic box that packages and wraps magic meat and eggs from?
He knows well enough to keep his comments to himself after his grandkids started refusing store bought eggs not even seeing them prepared for a meal or snack.They took one bite and were polite enough to ask for a PB&J instead.

They don't like it? Honestly, don't even tell them to get over it. Just go on about your passion and ignore the negative comments. You're a grown woman and you have
the choice to do what you want to do, even if it's not the norm for your family.They have thier interests and you have yours and if they don't like it, tell the both of them to give up the things they love to do.
And especially challenge your BF to put that WOW account on hold for a month... If you have to not do what you love to do, why not fair play on that??