Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[chestnutmare]

I've returned to uni and I'm sharing lifts with a friend. She picked me up a couple of weeks ago and saw the chickens, nothing much said but on the way back she asked, 'are they your chickens?' I said yes and she replied with, 'oh'. Is there a type of person who has chickens? I'm in my 20s living on my parents' smallholding so okay, she could have thought they were my parents I suppose. (By the way I move in a fortnight! )

 

I didn't get back from uni last night til 11pm so OH put the chickens to bed. I asked him, as I do with all of the animals, 'were they okay, what did they say?' (yes, okay, now I've typed this it does sound odd ) and he said, 'Nothing, they're chickens'.

Me: Strange, I would have thought they'd have said something. I know they're not happy because they've not had any treats or been free ranging because they're being wormed.

OH: No, they wouldn't, they're chickens. They don't care.

Me: You're telling me they don't have preferences? They're not robots.

OH: No, they're animals, but their chickens.

Me: But they're not just chickens, they're my pets.

OH: But they're chickens.

Now, if we were talking about our dog or my horses he'd have played along and given me a a short conversation.

 

The farrier called today and asked how the chickens are. I said fine, did you say hello to them? He looked at me as if I was mad.

 

So I think I must have completely lost the plot and might end up being known as the odd young lady with chickens. I know the members here love their chickens too, so maybe I'm not alone!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sounds perfectly normal to me . Of course they talk to us, how else would they issue their orders .

 

We all talk about "tucking the girls in" every night so I think I've trained all my boys rather well .

[Chortle Chook]

Absolutely normal Chickens say loads all the time . . . barb, beep, boop, BARP etc. etc. I sometimes talk chicken to my OH and he listens to me more and seems to understand what I mean more when I do that than when I speak English

[peckingham palace]

Nothing strange in it at all, my girls talk much more sense than a lot of the human beings I know!!!!!!

[Alis girls]

I have to say OH is as er bonkers for want of better word as me and would have played along with it. We have cat conversations where he puts on a cockney voice for our tom cat and a margo Leadbetter voice for out tabby. The girls have neutral sounding voices and screech " mealworms " whenever I go in the garage and "mum mum" - you are perfectly normal - it is others who aint.

[snowberry]

Well, I think it is Chickenist to think that Chickens don't talk or have feelings. There is an undercurrant in our society that thinks all chickens are stupid and not worthy of love and affection

Half the time I get more sense out of my chickens than I do from the kids; if people want to think that I'm the mad woman of the village then they can; that gives me the excuse to get even more chickies

[dancing cloud]

Nothing abnormal at all. Your OH should meet my Lola-hen, who has plenty to say about absolutely everything ! Usually she demands food, sometimes shouts at the cats and sometimes just wants attention - and she definitely enjoys being talked to as well. If you're out in the garden, she'll always give you her opinion on what you should be doing (and where's the best place to dig for worms for her ). Unfortunately she's taught Mistletoe to express her views as well ...

 

People don't think you're nuts if you believe cats and dogs communicate with you (and they certainly do when the service of dinner's not fast enough ) so why should anyone think chickens can't get their opinions across?

 

Thinking about it, most of my visitors head for the garden to "have a chat with the chickens" - maybe everyone I know's just nutty too

[vickichicky]

lol

My OH couldn't see the fascination with wanting chickens at first. Didn't realise they wouldn't run away at the first opportunity and how they would come running towards me bouncing off my legs when they see me coming with a bag or box (which means treats!).

He grudgingly became amused by them, now he doesn't hide it any more. The funniest thing is he used to wind me up for talking to them and telling them I love them....Now when I sneak out to listen when he's outside I hear him talking to them too He even says night girls when he shuts them up for me sometimes lol.

Now I have the ten chicks here in the barn at work (in my family business premises) he has become quite smitten. And even named the Lemon Pyle Brahma chick Fiona Feathers (just hope it's a girl!).

I think us chicken lovers are a little bit different..... but in a good way! I have 'horsey' friends that always fall out over yards etc but my 'chickeny' lot are far more sociable and love to share a cuppa overlooking each others runs!

I'm a Chicken lover and Proud

[doctors girls]

[chestnutmare] But they're not just chickens, they're my pets.

 

exactly

people talk to cats and dogs and any other animal they so call a pet so what is the difference we talk to chickens one of our neighbours brings her 3 year old grandson to see them and he loves talking and stroking them {could have a future chicken keeper there] now talking to plants that is a different issue that is bobble hat material --"train spotters day off"

[Alis girls]

I see myself as an ageing hippy - albeit one who grew up in the 70's so a bit of a disco chick on the quiet. I love the animals, nature and mucking around in the garden - nothing nicer than getting wet and muddy and having a hot shower to make you feel human again. I scrub up well when its needed. Theres far worse things to be than a chicken/cat/dog loving female or male - at least I dont go round killing or hurting others - so if I'm a little strange so be it.

[cheekymonkey200]

hehe I'm exactly the same! I'm 22 and on nights where I go out with the girls, I can never make an appearance until after I've put the chickens to bed. Im fairly sure they think I'm mad. I think talking to them is fine, my dad calls the dog son but thinks I'm nuts to kiss the chickens goodnight I think the real issue for the neighbours is when I talk to them "in chicken"...clucking around the garden probably isnt a good sign is it...

[craftyhunnypie]

I dread what the locals & local farmers are going to make of my colourful chicken houses ( eglus & cube) in our fields! Will cause a stir when we arrive!

I get carried away talking chickens sometimes & you can tell when people are thinking 'crazy woman', when all you get back is "oh riiiight"! They just dont get it do they?!

Emma.x

[chestnutmare]

Nope, they just don't do it or understand what's 'up with us'. Chickens are knowing creatures, they know when it's free ranging time, food time, they know the little routines. I'm glad I can come here and feel normal again. Or at least mad with the rest of you!

[Duncan08]

I do the chicken talk when I am working in the garden.

Chilli in particular is always chunnering away so you just have to talk back to her.

 

But they definitely do talk back. If I pick up any of our girls hold them and start talking, they will all "talk" back to me when there is a break in the chat. Would love to know what they are saying. They move their heads about to listen and look at me - there is definite interaction going on.

They also recognise the sound of the back door handle turning and can run a minute mile as soon as it turns. We have to sneak out to put them to bed all they all come charging back out again if they hear you.

[chestnutmare]

Ha, Duncan, we have to sneak to lock them up at night too.

[johnandkymberley]

Hi, i am 22 and have got my 7 hens, i talk to my hennie pennies every morning and say goodnight to them too, they love me talking to them, i have little nicknames for them and everything, if i just shout "come my girls" they all come running, everone thinks its amazing! bless um

[johnandkymberley]

Also when i compliment them (dont know if thats relevant) and say hello beautiful, they crouch for me just from the sound of my voice!!!! my hens are so tame though, they just love people and attention but they are MY girls, they like john but love me! lol

[chestnutmare]

Ah that's very sweet Kymberley. My mother used to clap her hands and 23 free ranging chickens would appear from all directions, that would be a very funny sight too.

[surfer_chicken]

I'm 17 and going to talk to the chickens is the first thing I do when I get back from college everyday, I tell them how my day was and ask what they've been up to. Obviously they don't tell me, but they seem to "reply". Clearly you lot all know what I mean

 

I don't see how it's any different to my friends talking to their cats/dogs.

[Tricky]

we're all bonkers

[johnandkymberley]

We are lol, also my neighbours laugh at me when i call the girls "lil fellas"- from nemo when dory sees the whale!!!...come on little fella...the girls love it!!! xx

[francesca88]

It's funny you should post this, as last Saturday I went to see some bantams on a farm just up the road from me and the lady said to me 'So why is a young lady like you into chickens?' (I'm 23)

I've always wanted chickens ever since I can remember and two years ago I just thought, I'm going to do it!! And I've gone from having three chickens then to 15 now! Serious case of 'Morehens disease'!

[suzannejoy]

we're all bonkers

oh yes . isnt it great

[jennydavies]

Our French neighbours never "name" their chickens, ducks, geese etc....until now. I told the children that my girls all have names and that I talk to them and they talk back to me. Their Dad, Emille, chuckles when he hears me because he finds it funny, but the children have named their goose Bambi - it is unheard of over here. She is gorgeous and very friendly, she "chats" to me through the fence and comes running over when she see's our girls getting treats. I think our neighbours are getting used to the strange Anglaises next door. OH, Charlie is doing very well with his "chicken speak" now as well.

[migsy]

we're all bonkers

oh yes . isnt it great

 

Thankfully we have this forum which could be renamed "Chickens Anonymous"