4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Nuggywoo]

First of all I apologise for this post, I don't know any of you but from what I've been reading you all seem like a caring bunch and right now I could do with that. Here goes:

 

I live happily alone (divorce pending), with my cats and my beautiful chickens. I'm not a confident person, low self esteem and take things to heart etc. My landlord/lady are upper crust, speak better than me and have dinner parties etc.

 

My problem is I know they take the mickey out of me because I care about my chickens! They laughed (behind my back ) when I took last year's cockerel to the vet as he was unwell, they snigger when I give extras to the chooks, they laugh (again behind my back ) because I've named all my chooks. They didn't take it seriously when their dog killed 2 of my chickens and mauled a third (he's doing ok), I was too ashamed of their reaction to cry in front of them. My chickens are as much pets to me as my cats - I didn't get them for their eggs (what will I do with 4 eggs a day when my 3 babies start laying in a month ?) I get one a day and that's fine. If I didn't get any I'd be happy! They're a rare breed so I'm doing my bit for conservation and I want them healthy so I worm them, give them ACV, spice etc etc and I get laughed at.

 

I feel like an idiot for loving my beauties and it hurts to admit it . I can spend hours with my chooks, just watching and observing them. Does that make me a half wit??

 

I have a fantastic job which I love, a brilliant social life (I don't have one...) and a great network of faraway friends. Maybe I've lost the art of communication in the real world? I'm confident at work and also with my 'hobby' which takes me all over the country some weekends so why do I feel like "that mad cat lady who talks to her chickens"? I'm angry at myself for letting it get to me! I don't talk about them anymore and that hurts because I'm proud of them. They make me smile and they don't judge.

 

Thank you for reading this. It's a bit disjointed but I wanted to get some of it off my chest.

 

Now for the bottle of wine

[Clur]

It's easy for me to say, but I think it's their problem rather than yours. What sort of a person wouldn't be mortified if their dog mauled any animal???

 

They may appear 'upper-crust' but to judge you for being caring and thoughful towards your animals and far-away friends, well, I'd say that's massaging their own fragile egos at your expense. You certainly have nothing to worry about, and just look at the explosion in popularity of looking after chickens - you're far from alone in loving chooks!

 

Are they the type of people you'd like to be friends with? It sounds like they probably wouldn't, and if that's the case I'd hold your head up high and just remember their opinion counts for 'owt!

 

If it makes you feel any better, my neighbours have christened me the mad chicken lady...I enjoy playing up to it a little

[Omletina Kyckling]

They may be upper crust but they clearly have no class if they think this is the way to behave towards you.

 

This is their problem, not yours, as Clur has said.

 

You only have to spend a few minutes on this forum to see that we all think the way that you do and you are amongst friends here. You don't need to prove yourself or even bother with people like them. They clearly have a problem.

 

I talk to my chickens and also my cats too, and I think people probably think I'm the mad cat lady with chickens too but I don't care - if that is what they think then it's their problem and it's them that are losing out, not me.

 

You mustn't let this worry you at all, I know this is easy to say, but you really mustn't. I think when you live on your own, things dwell in your mind more - I'm on my own most of the time as my hubby works and lives overseas, and I'm guilty of this, things stew in my mind and I have too much time to analyse things and worry unnecessarily. I find that when I come on the forum and read what others have to say and "chat" to them, it helps.

 

Just rise above these silly people and realise that you are ok, you are normal (in a potty catty chickeny kinda way ) and enjoy your menagerie!!

 

Diane x

[freddie]

It's not you....

There are many of us who are in the minority these days. Keep your principles, stay as you are and be happy with your own moral code.

What right has any person to indicate in any way how they feel how someone "should " be? Are tjhey so special.

Remember, all of us, including the Queen, USE the Loo!!!!It's a great leveller!

And yes, people on here are lovely, and dont extract the ......, only in a good way; my choox have names, I have 3 cats, all rescues, plus all sorts of other menagerie things... everyone thinks I'm bonkers but I really dont care. those who bother to get to know me get loyalty that knows no borders. Chin up girl, you sound great to us.

[hillfamily]

It's easy for me to say, but I think it's their problem rather than yours.

 

That's just what I was going to say - it's them who has the problem not you. If you're happy with your life then don't let narrow minded people make you change. They'll get what they deserve one of these days

 

I'm also a mad cat lady who loves her chooks :D and I don't care what anyone thinks and I'm the happiest I've been for many years

[Mrs Frugal]

If you're happy, don't let what others think make any difference to you. You're the one who matters, not their opinions which sound pretty shallow anyway. I'm known as the mad chicken woman round here and do you know, it doesn't bother me at all . We care about our pets and there's nothing at all wrong with that .

[Cooks]

everyone laughs at me as well, but then they have done for most of my life for one thing or another. Dont let them get to you, why should what they think affect you? Like Kate said, they sound pretty shallow and a tad uncaring to say the least. You know what I would do, next time they are anywhere near, talk to your chickens like they are babies, all ooing and ahhing (I do this anyway ) just to annoy them... make all conversations divert to the chickens so you can talk about them... I'd keep that up for ages to annoy the pants off them.

[Couperwife]

I am a bit surprised at your post (please dont take that the wrong way - just listen)

 

you say that your landlady/lord are upper crust, what what sort of ***** (add choice word - I dont want to get mod'd) lets their dog maul another animal and doesnt deal with it properly. I would be mortified if my cat ate a bird or a mouse - and they are wild, if she ate someones hamster, I would be gutted and offer to replace the animal at least.

 

you say that they laugh at you behind your back? do they have nothing better to do and no suitable interests themselves? how totally sad and boring their little lives must be, I feel very sorry for them.

 

we have 5 chickens, the little darlings at the school I teach go but most ask about them. most adults that know ask how they are and then comment on the wonderful eggs (closely followed by "do you have any spare?" )

 

you are not alone loving your chickens. just enjoy them and ******** to the misery guts landlord/lady.

 

 

**hugs**

 

cathy

x

[Nuggywoo]

Thank you everyone, you've made me smile through my tears at your kind words

 

You're right! Why should I care what they think? Even though I do.

 

I thought I was guilty of caring/loving too much.

 

Thanks to you all again.

 

xx

[Cooks]

I thought I was guilty of caring/loving too much.

no-one can be quilty of that *hug* they care guilty of not caring enough though

[hillfamily]

I thought I was guilty of caring/loving too much.

 

you can never ever ever ever be guilty of that :D

[Seagazer]

Well they don't sound like nice people at all. Ignore them - you carry on doing what you want to do.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree with everything everyone else has said .

 

Do you know for a fact that they laugh at you behind your back? Do you just feel like they do? You may find that they don't really - although they still sound like nasty people who don't deserve a nice, caring tenant like you .

 

You should be secure in the knowledge that you're a lovely person (it shows in your posts). Don't give them a second thought.

[Snowy]

Poor you - what an awful way to feel

But ditto to what everyone else has said - they have no right to judge you, and if they get their kicks from looking down their noses at others then they are to be pitied.

 

You are who you are - you'd be miserable if you tried to be anything different, and you are absolutely wonderful and unique

[chelsea]

If you're happy, don't let what others think make any difference to you. You're the one who matters, not their opinions.

 

I agree with this.

 

I dont care if anyone laughs at me (and there is plenty to laugh at! ), you sound like a caring, loving person - and what a nice way to be. I adore my chooks and yes, I will happily spend all day in the garden nattering away to them whilst they peck the compost out of my pots, my neighbours can probably hear me, they probably also snigger when I go outside with odd coloured crocs on! .

 

Dont you change one bit, if you are happy the way you are - you stay that way. Society pressures us too much to "be like this" or "look like that" , life is stressful enough without worrying about what other people think.

 

Enjoy your chooks and stay happy.

[jlo]

Can't help but agree with what everyone else has said on this one. My mother's main motto throughout life was that you should try to treat others as you would want to be treated. Sadly, there is a sizeable minority that never seems to think this way and it sounds as though these people are in it.

 

They seem to have the ability to make you feel small . I have acquaintances who make me feel the same way. Objectively, I know that they are no better than I am but it doesn't always help. The behaviour that you have described would demonstrate that you are vastly superior to these people - I guess you just need to try and remember that when you have to be in their company.

 

Keep smiling

[Nuggywoo]

Do you know for a fact that they laugh at you behind your back?

I do - I've heard them, seen them and a lovely lady in the village told me but my landlady had said it was the other way round I know who I believe.

 

You are all such fantastic people, I'm glad I 'know' you, you've made 'the mad cat lady who talks to her chickens' feel better about herself.

 

I'm happy as I am, I love my chickens and I will carry on talking to them and about them. (Repeat to self continously)

 

xx

 

ps thanks for the hugs they were appreciated.

[Willow]

They sound rather unpleasant people Ignore them and be content in the knowledge you are more in tune with current trends than they are

 

There's a lot of us mad cat & chicken ladies on here - you're in great company

[Couperman]

What exactly does 'Upper crust' mean?

 

I am not from Cornwall but as I understand it,....

Traditionally the upper crust of a Cornish pasty serves one purpose and one purpose only, it allows decent people to eat their lunch with dirty hard working hands.

The upper crust is then discarded as the useless dirty inedilble part!

 

Be yourself, don't doubt yourself because those who think they are better than you do. They are wrong, you are not.

 

There is no such thing as 'class', especially on here. Everyone is equal. Some are more equal than others though

 

Kev. aka (Lord Zetland)

[hils78]

Hey you.

They sound like complete t****!

I have been through similar feelings to you. It might help you to write a letter to them (now don't hold back) it does have to be addressed to them too. When you have finished telling them how they make you feel in the letter I bet you will feel a whole lot better. You don't even need to send them the letter. Only thing is don't write it out on the computer (if they have email) because its very very easy to press send! - not quite as easy to find a stamp amongst the chicken feather collection in the drawer & then walk to the post box! Do post it if you want though. You could shred it & let the chickens poo all over it lol......or get a picture of them & put it under the chickens roost.... - think I'm going over the top now aren't I?

Hope you feel better soon

Hx

[Olly]

Another mad cat-lovin', chook-talkin' woman here ... I don't like people who DON'T talk to their animals! I talk to my girls non-stop when they're in the garden, usually cursing them for getting underfoot and telling them off for eating my tomato plants, or saying 'ooh look - a snail, now who'd like this one ...'

 

I do sympathise, like you I'm single and I do sometimes worry that I'm turning into some sort of a caricature - Bridget Jones aged 40-something. But I enjoy what I do and I don't hurt anyone else doing it, and I wouldn't swap my life with anyone else.

 

Ignore them, hard as that is - they must be insecure and shallow if they feel they need to make fun of others in order to make themselves feel better.

[Joojoo]

Do you know for a fact that they laugh at you behind your back?

I do - I've heard them, seen them and a lovely lady in the village told me but my landlady had said it was the other way round I know who I believe.

 

You are all such fantastic people, I'm glad I 'know' you, you've made 'the mad cat lady who talks to her chickens' feel better about herself.

 

I'm happy as I am, I love my chickens and I will carry on talking to them and about them. (Repeat to self continously)

 

xx

 

ps thanks for the hugs they were appreciated.

 

You are definitely not on your own hun. I'm a mad cat lady that talks to her chickens too. My next door neighbours think it's hilarious but they talk to their dog too plus they are now in the process of getting chickens too after looking after mine while we were on holiday. That's what I call a result

[Egluntyne]

Ignore them....they are not worthy of your concern.

 

If you are happy......then that is wonderful. Keep smiling.

 

Don't let people like this drag you down emotionally.

[Lapinou]

I think this has less to do with loving chickens and more to do with you getting enough confidence in your own choices and feelings to not care what other people think. Easier said than done, though, isn't it!

 

One of my primary aims of being a parent is to help my children become people who are happy to make choices that suit them regardless of what 'everyone else' does. We've made some pretty non-mainstream choices and, as times gone on, cared less and less what nutters we look like. No one makes comments now, and if I they do, they just wash off my back because I find it much easier to excuse people who are, quite simply, ignorant. They just don't know that they're saying things that make them look, not just rude, but very stupid as well - totally unaware of the fact that, just because 'everyone' does something, doesn't make it the right thing to do, and that the 'right thing' is different for everyone.

 

I find asking myself 'why not?' the best way of coping with rude people - if they comment on our five yo still sharing our bed, I think to myself 'does it affect these people? is there a problem with her being in our bed? no...so I'll just ignore these nutters'. In other words, don't base whether or not how you live your life (be that bedsharing, or cuddling chickens) on whether someone else thinks it's right or not - base it on what *you* think is right. If you're causing no harm to anyone doing what you're doing, then there's nothing wrong with it and if people are ignorant enough (and insecure enough) to be able to cope with someone doing something that doesn't fit with the norm, then that's their problem - poor ignorant souls - feel sorry for them!

[Ana's flock]

Oh well, here comes another cat mad, chicken hugger, bed sharer crazy lady.

 

Those people might have lots of money, but surely they don't have class, heart, compassion, passion, or even a life, if they find something as normal as talking to one's pets a matter of laughter.

 

They seem really nasty!

 

And for class... didn't Prince Charles talk to his plants (so do I by the way...). Well, that's royalty - surely 'higher up' the 'poshness' ladder than your landpeople (if anybody believe that one person can be 'higher up' than other - unless they live on the top of a council block of flats! )

 

Enjoy your cats, chickens, and newly found freedom. Do what YOU want and have fun. Usually the most loving, sensitive and eccentric people are also the most creative, intelligent and definitely the most fun to be with. Who wants to spend any time with a 'beige' stiff-upper lip? Not this one for sure!

 

(Other thing, I think if a dog attacks another's pet it can be reported to the police, and the owners fined... I'd find out if I was you... perhaps a letter from a nasty solicitor about the value of your chickens, vet fees, compensation for damage and upset caused... could wipe that smile out of their faces for a wee while... )

 

Good luck - and big hugs

 

Ana