What to do with an unsupportive husband... chicken tractor plans

[JillsChicks]

Dear Chicken Fans -

I know it's hard to understand how someone could not want chickens in their backyard or especially on their farm, but for years my husband has insisted he doesn't want feathered friends on the property.

We have a real farm with fields, pastures, a new barn and space! What more could one ask for? But I know two reasons hubby has not wanted chickens - he goes to other farms with his job and sees poop and scratched up gardens and crappy barns. He also remembers my dad's merganser ducks who free-ranged all over; who could avoid the wet messes they left behind?

A short while ago, we learned that our adopted daughter as some pretty severe learning disabilities. We've decided to homeschool her and to really concentrate on life skills and that's where the chickens come in. DH agreed to let me bid on eggs on eBay though he admits now that he was hoping none of the eggs would hatch. You should have seen his face when we candled and 16 of 18 eggs looked great!

My girlfriend agreed to come over to help me build a chicken tractor and DH heard us planning. This morning he asked what kind of contraption we were going to throw together today.

I answered, "Honey, if I don't have your support, I'm not going to build anything." And I meant it. If in the end I have to give away all but two hens and keep them in a dog kennel at night, then that's the way it's going to be. Marital happiness is much more important than fresh eggs. Plus, deep down I believe God will bless me by respecting my husband's wishes.

What did he say?! He asked me when the chicks are due, how long they'd be in the brooder and, for the first time, he looked at some very simple chicken tractor plans I'd found. "You don't have all the supplies you'd need for this one yet," he said. That was it. He left for work, but now I know that he'll make the effort to build that 8 hen chicken tractor I'd like.

This approach may not work for everyone, and I gotta admit there are days when I wish I could make all the decisions around here. But love conquers all - even on the chicken farm!

If any of you would like to comment on how you've settled differences with family over chicken issues, I'd love to read them.

Ann at JillsChicks

 

[lurky]

My DH was not too thrilled about my wanting chickens either. He has alleries and asthma which made things VERY difficult for him. If he went into the room where they were in the brooder box, he would get sick. He did support us by building the brooder, and the coop/hen house.....but its been tough for him to love them. The other day he was looking at them out in the coop where his allergies could handle it........and he said "that one there looks like a roadrunner" .........So he has named his first chicken.......I call it roadrunner and he likes them more everyday. Yesterday his mother was here to see him for fathers day and he showed her the chickens and said " i named that one roadrunner".........LMAO.......you can imagine my delight

 

[SpottedCrow]

My hubby's soooo unsupportive it's not funny...so I know how this is...
I brought home Tom and Jerry without his permission. He didn't talk to me for 2 days.
I bought a Rabbit Hutch to use for them, without his permission. He didn't talk to me for a week!
But when we had a neighbour's kid who offered to bash Slifer's head in with a stick and I called the cops, he told the police that the kids was threatening OUR chickens.
And he'll grudgingly feed and water them. When we went to NH for a holiday, just DS and me, he told me how Slifer was doing and fed and watered them.
He doesn't like to eat their eggs though, because he says he sees what they eat.

Pets are my lookout, from George the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach to Miss MoneyPenny and Obelisk the Tormentor, my two hens.
At least your DH seems like he might want to help just a teeny tiny bit.
Good luck...having chickens is a great experience and through all the turmoil, nothing beats a chicken hug and a fresh egg at the end of the day.

 

[okiechick57]

"Plus, deep down I believe God will bless me by respecting my husband's wishes.

What did he say?! He asked me when the chicks are due, how long they'd be in the brooder and, for the first time, he looked at some very simple chicken tractor plans I'd found. "You don't have all the supplies you'd need for this one yet," he said. That was it. He left for work, but now I know that he'll make the effort to build that 8 hen chicken tractor I'd like.

This approach may not work for everyone, and I gotta admit there are days when I wish I could make all the decisions around here. But love conquers all - even on the chicken farm!"

Although I have a very supportive hubby ,he gave me my first flock for a birthday

present....I still wish I could one day,just one day, make all decisions........hehee..... I really hope your daughter is totally blessed by your hatch.and the care of the babies...........God is good........and I too believe you will be blessed. it is hard to do sometimes . isnt it? be sure and post pics when the babies arrive!

 

[chickbea]

Are you sure it wasn't just a matter of you planning to get all of his tools out and use them?

That's how my husband is - he never wants to help build anything until I actually put my work clothes on and start dragging his tools out. THEN he's right on the scene to take over!

 

[erinm]

I guess I 'm lucky. my husband loves the girls as much as I do. He modified the shed and is building my nest boxes this week. But we only have 11 so maybe if i had more the smell would change his mind HaHa

 

[Barb Schuetz]

Mine said that I could do what I wanted but he didn't want anything to do with it and he especially didn't want to have to help. Well, he said he'd help me build a coop but that was it. As usual, I started thinking about other animal. He began to throw a fit! Especially since I made him go out of town with me to help get my adult pair of Embdens. He helped catch the female and shortly after even said that he was already attatched! He then began to understand my reasons for wanting to become self reliant and why I care about the food we eat. THEN he started to realize how profitable chicken keeping can be if done right- he's done for. Not only does he willingly help out, he picks up the chicks and talks baby talk, he goes out to make sure the pools are full for the geese and mists them while he mists the dogs, AND he's always on the phone iwth someone(his brothers and dad) telling them about the animals- and "educating" them. Now when I tell him I found another breed that I want or that I called Chet's and added to my chick order he says- "ok."

Good Hubby!

 

[Newchickenmom&kids]

I definately did not want chicken poop all over and didn't really want to 'dedicate' a portion of my yard permanently for a coop. What I did was built a small tractor and have it in the back yard in an area that we don't 'play' in. I move it every 2-3 days. By doing this...the grass is hardly damaged and within a few days looks good as new!

 

[chickbea]

Another thing - soon you'll overhear him chatting to the hens when he thinks no one is around to hear, and bragging to his friends about how good the homemade eggs are...

 

[cookinmom]

My DH made the chicken thing happen here. I talked about it, but I'm such a tightwad nothing would've happened if he hadn't jumped in and got it done. Now he takes snacks to the chickens, and sits in their coop and talks to 'em sometimes. The garden beds are doing good, small but prolific, and he's talking about helping me make a huge garden next year. Now I've been expressing interest in getting bees, and starting to read up on it and get info; Dave's ready to drive to High Springs (FL) to Dadant and buy a hive now. I guess we are really two complementary halves.