When is it all too much?

[ZooMummzy]

Quote:
I think this pretty much sums up what I was going to post. I am of the opinion (in all matters) that each person can do what they want with their money and time. I don't want people telling me how to spend mine, so I try to stay out of other people's business. My coop cost almost $2000 and I'm still spending money on it. However, it is a very secure coop (I've never lost a chicken to a predator) and exactly what I wanted for my long term hobby - chickens. I figure I'm pushing close to 10K spent on my chickens these past few years and I wanted something that would protect that investment. We also didn't have the time to put into gathering materials and piecing a coop together. It was slap and go for the most part, onto the other projects we have waiting. With all that said, I love to read about the creativeness and time people put into building their coops. I really don't care how much money they spend on them or what they do with the rest of their money. I'm here for the chickens

 

[4theloveofhens]

And also, it's all in ratio!!!

I have a REALLY Tight college budget. So my coop is going to be AWESOME for what I can do with my budget.

Some people make a lot more, having an actual income, so there coop is in ratio to what they make. It's probably still a big chunk of money for them, but it compares to what they make.

Yes, some people will do the bare minimum even if they could do more, and certainly (probably most of us) will do more than we can actually afford. Just because the coop is awesome, expensive, etc, doesn't mean they are growing money on trees. It just means that's where they chose to allocate their "funds" OR, where they decided their debt would start.

 

[Lorije1]

Very cool thread, for the most part.
I LOVE the huge fancy chicken houses!! Do I have one? Nope. Do I want one? Not necessarily - but I am totally thrilled when someone posts pics of a darling little decorated henhouse. In fact, the coops thread is the first place I come usually.
I planted sunflowers along my fenceline, and have a hanging basket with flowers on the outside of the coop (where it is safe from jumping chickens!). I give them melon, tuna and blueberries for treats.

As far as tending to people? I give to people I know for projects / missions I know. Example - the Nurse Practitioner who went to Indonesia after the tsunami - I gave what I could to help them with medical supplies. When I see a homeless person on the corner (and we have dozens of them here), if I have food in the car, I give them some (Christmas I gave a box of citrus to a lady who works the homeless camp). Even this much info is not anyone's business.


You can't determine someone's charitable giving by the size of their chicken coop.


ETA "CAN'T" determine instead of "CAN"

 

[dntd]

Quote:
Your animals don't love you, animnals are unble to feel love as we know it. Animals run on instinct, even dogs. Dogs need thier master like the need a packleader, "love" and survivel are two seperate things, chickens come running thinking you have treats now because you are a nice person.

 

[Zahboo]

Quote:
Please share this with my dog, I don't think she got the memo.

 

[Tylt33]

Quote:
Your animals don't love you, animnals are unble to feel love as we know it. Animals run on instinct, even dogs. Dogs need thier master like the need a packleader, "love" and survivel are two seperate things, chickens come running thinking you have treats now because you are a nice person.

You've got two different arguments going on here, and I'd be happy to discuss either. They are not, however, mutually exclusive.

Argument 1: "Animals run on instinct." I agree with you, yes. Research supports this.

Argument 2: "Animals don't love." This has been scientifically proven to be false. Animals do love. Animals are capable of being conditioned to respond to certain human behaviors (i.e. Pavlov's dog), however, they show physiological signs of "love" that are commensurate with how "love" is defined in humans; we see reduced heart rates in animals when their loved ones are around, a decrease in anxiety, excitement at reunion, etc. Sure, this varies from species to species and each individual animal within a species. But to issue a sweeping generalization that all animals are unable to feel love is clearly incorrect.

 

[SilkieTime]

Mine eather.

I know better.

 

[Tylt33]

I have to add that this thread strikes me as painfully humorous; people in developed countries discussing on their online forum (for which they are paying $25+ a month for an internet connection for) whether or not they are spending too much on their chickens' houses. We all do what we can to help, we buy what we can afford, and life continues on. Yes, it's unfortunate that some of our chickens live in houses that are nicer than what people in 80% of the world live in, but such is life. Love your families, your animals, and be thankful for what you have!

 

[gramakoko]

hey Michael,

My grandpa was in WWI, He spent a lot of time in muddy trenches and used to tell me stories of how lice would crawl all over his body right up to the high collar on his uniform...He said one day his unit was crossing a farm and came across some fresh eggs...they stole them cooked and ate them...he said it was the best food he ever had ever...you don't need to waste your time feeling guilty. You can take your eggs and give them to the hungry. It is no sin to skillfully craft and lovingly care for your animals and buildings... It's being a good steward and a good neighbor... I take it that you live in socialist Canada...Socialism is a sick system that breeds unproductive thinking...so stick with breeding chickens and stay connected to this forum, they'll get your thinking straightened out... I wish you the best...

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I have friends asking to move into my coop,

It has increased the value of my property. I like that I can walk in and it's easy to maintain, which makes having the birds more fun. I don't go to the movies, but every day I sit in my run with my chickens and just enjoy their antics. If someone gave me a wad of cash right now I don't think I'd want a fancier car or bigger house...but I would want to extend my run

Different strokes for different folks.