I wanted to write a clever answer here -- kind of like the old jokes about why cucumbers are better than men -- but other than "Chickens don't charge $100/hour," I can't think of anything at the moment. Anyway, what I'm wondering is...what is it about hanging around with chickens that makes people feel so good? I can sit and watch my brooder full of chicks for an hour or more, and I always walk away feeling better than I did when I started. Even just saying goodbye to my grown chickens (and hearing Earl crow in reply) every morning makes me smile. I have some theories: 1) Caring for little defenseless animals is always rewarding. When they are cute and fluffy and grow so fast you can almost see the feathers sprouting, it's even more so. 2) Chickens lead a simple life. Eat, poop, scratch, wallow in the dust, chase bugs. Mate once in a while, lay some eggs, cluck and crow, nest and strut. Raise your kids to do the same. Nothing complicated, just ordinary, day to day existing. That simplicity transports us away from the voicemail, Blackberry, traffic jams, competitiveness, hectic life that most of us lead and reminds us that life is pretty basic after all. What can you add to this list?
They just sit there and listen without much feedback and let you come up with your own answers instead of telling your their answers so you think they are your own. I must say there is a lot to say about chicken therapy. Hey, maybe I should start charging for chicken therapy I would even charge $50/hour and people would be getting a real bargain.
For me it's something I can 'obsess' on when needed to get my wandering brain off the 'not so pleasant' thoughts that always seem to want to live there. So I can instead think about what breed I would like to try or study...what changes I want to make to the coop, ect. It is just one of those 'nothing' things that you can wrap your mind around and concentrate on:>) And watching them do thier thing is one of the best perks...just scratching around without a care in the world.
Now if one of BYC's resident fancy sign makers would just come up with a sign we could put on our front fence: Chicken Therapy $50 an hour Complete confidentiality guaranteed (Co-Payment Required: Grapes)
Quote:I'm thinking I would require mealworms for copay. Besides, it would increase therapeutic value immensely!
I think it is just animals in general. I have a horse I dont ride. He is rideable, although he does have arthritis and little to no flexation in his ankles. But he worked hard on the track and he and I enjoy just hanging out together. Within a month of getting him up here from PA he was lame and I spent nearly an entire riding season helping him feel better. He is mytherapy and my best friend. I go out to see him daily and clean his stall. In fact, if I get the ok from my cardiologist May 27, I might look for a job cleaning stalls come fall. It's relaxing.
It's nature. When people are closer to nature, the earth, gardens, animals, etc., their stress levels go down. It's quite simple, really.
I dont know, but it is the best therapy. I would rather sit in my chicken coop, with Sweetie at my feet, watching the chickens peck and bath, and talk to each other, and run in and out of the house, and just....chicken. There is definitely something to it, there really is. I can't explain it, but its my favorite part of the day, the evening in the chicken pen. (dont tell anyone I said this....they'll come and get me for sure).