Will chickens help my depression?

[1muttsfan]

Before you start letting them out of the pen get a can or plastic tub and put a little grain in it. Each day when you go out shake the can and call the girls. Give them a little treat of grain when they run up to you. They will quickly learn to come a-runnin when they hear that sound. My birds get treats only when they go back in their run and they know it.

 

[JohnPeel]

Hi John,
We have a stool in there so that we can sit and visit in the winter when it is snowy and cold as well as a stool in the covered run.

Best wishes to you. I hope 2013 will be the year that things turn around for you.

Thank you. I can get in my coop too. It's just that I would have to lay down in the chippings and poo, and there would be no room for the chooks, so that's out for now. I think I will put a bench in the little pen though. But wont it get full of poo and leave me nowhere to sit. I suppose I could just put a cover over it when I am not sitting.

 

[chickenzoo]

You can get one of those folding little chairs......
My chickens come running whenever they see the feed scoop. Its like everyone in the yard stops and stares.....waiting to see if I pick up the scoop....lol..its creepy with a hundred plus doing it... Lol

 

[JohnPeel]

The chooks and I having fun in the snow.

Just kidding of course. But who knows, one day. You see what they are doing to me, Im going crazy when they are supposed to be helping me!

 

[chickenzoo]

Lol....you are becoming one of us now....Hehe.

 

[Bunnylady]

You can get one of those folding little chairs......
My chickens come running whenever they see the feed scoop. Its like everyone in the yard stops and stares.....waiting to see if I pick up the scoop....lol..its creepy with a hundred plus doing it... Lol

Oh, you know it! I get the same feeling. Dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, goats, miniature horses, mule . . . . Everywhere I look, there are these little eyes, watching me!

(Does trading depression for paranoia sound reasonable to you?!)

 

[sourland]

Yes, John, that picture proves that indeed you are becoming like us.

 

[venus]

Hi John

You are not on your own. Many of us have a story similar to yours. Life can sometimes deal us a bad hand, but, we become stronger with each experience and end up much better people. Your "girls" will help you to focus on the simplicities of life along with giving you endless hours of laughter and love. Enjoy them. My girls are making my cheeks hurt! Every time I go to see them I smile, and the smile doesn't go until I leave them alone again. Then it returns when I remember them. They have such wonderful personalities and are just so cute. Words cannot explain.....

Good luck with everything and keep us updated with news and photos. Well done.

 

[JohnPeel]

Yes, it is quite amazing just how many people suffer. And you know, it should never be underestimated just how much our partners and family suffer because we do.

I overlook this often, because that is the nature of depression. You feel it's you, that it's all about you, but it isn't, and you don't see that all the time. From time to time when I stop to think about how it hurts my loved ones, it hurts, it hurts a lot. So I make extra effort to try to snap out of it and give my partner a break from me. It doesn't last long, but it is something. I couldn't live with me if I were my partner, but I know she loves me, as do my family. I am aware too that we all have limits though.

When I go out to the chooks I ask my wife to come with me or she will ask me to go with her, and we take a treat and stand with them for a little while, together. They are helping, and I am so glad I got them.

 

[chickenzoo]

The chickens can help you greatly.....they help you focus on something else. But if you don't feel like your medication is working or your doctor is not working hard to help you....find another doctor. I can't stress this enough. Depression is a.chemical inbalance in the brain...sometimes.brought out by trama or.certain body changes etc etc... .which we.have.no control over. Many people don't understand this and think we just need to get over it. It is hard on all people involved.....very hard. Find.a.doctor that keeps up with you and has experience in the field. If you don't like the Doc.....fire him..her.....and try another....They work for YOU. We.need doctors that really keep us with us...as part of some depression is lack of wanting to keep up with meds.etc...
So find a.Doc that will really find the med that works for YOU. It takes time.....its hard....but hang.in there and.meanwhile enjoy the chicks.