Run Clips

[Chortle Chook]

I would so like to share my hobby with OH and for him to like our chickens as I do, and to join me in looking forward to new girls arriving, or in praising how pretty or funny they are. He likes the "dear, harmless little " but with the he seems to have a real grr relationship and sometimes it comes between us. He'll feed them and check them in at night, but is always rude about them and if I'm distracted at all he says in scathing terms "your head is full of chickens" .

 

Does anyone else have this with their OH and if so what ways do you have for keeping the peace?

[auntielizzie]

My OH isn't interested in my chickens at all; in fact he is quite rude about them and says they lay "substandard eggs" (Although I think this is supposed to be a joke )

 

He will very kindly let them out of the coop in the morning if I am up a bit late, and he has actually looked after them when I have been away on the odd weekend. However, he will keep referring to them as "stupid birds" and can't really see the attraction in them at all

 

Needless to say, he has been less than impressed with the amount of money that I spend on them and always makes some comment or other when I go to the "chicken shop". He has been particularly unimpressed by all the recent vets fees

 

He does know that they make me very very happy and that I thoroughly enjoy having them (as I badgered him to let me keep hens for years) and I find the best way of keeping harmony is just to get along with it all myself without any drama and not asking for any help (and of course being very very grateful when he looks after them for me if I go away ).

[Redwing]

My husband also isnt too impressed with the amount the birds cost but he does understand that they are my passion and he will happily feed them though he refuses point blank to clean them out - this was made clear at the start and I have never expected him to do this anyway. He also refuses to come to shows as he thinks them boring

 

He doesnt really 'get' the attraction but he humours me along and is proud when my birds do well at shows

 

he thinks the ducks are fab though and will happily clean them out

[jackian]

My OH loves watching them from the kitchen window (but denies it), he talks to them when in the garden (but denies it)and he built a big WIR for them as he wanted them to have space ....But that is where it sort of stops.... He won't clean them out and I see his eyes glaze over if I talk about them for more than a couple of minutes .

And don't tell anyone but when I had to take poor Florry to the vet last yeart I did not tell him the exact amount it cost

[Redwing]

And don't tell anyone but when I had to take poor Florry to the vet last yeart I did not tell him the exact amount it cost

 

thats typical of any 'wife' expense though, always halve it then shave off a few pounds

[Egluntyne]

Him Indoors does offer eggs to all and sundry, but does bog all in terms of caring for the hens. He did once carry a sack of pellets from the car to the storage bin when my back was playing up

 

It wouldn't occur to him to complain about how I choose to spend my money, and I don't complain about how he chooses to spend his. What's his is mine and what's mine is my own.

[good_egg]

My OH wasn't keen on getting the girls. We had talked about pets, but he is allergic to everything, then spoke briefly about babies and he was all too happy to get chooks . He has been won over by them now though and was in bits over Viv. Much sympathy for lack of understanding though, it's hard when you aren't quite understood (plenty other issues for us!)

[christyrose12]

My OH has no interest in my chickens either. I do everything for them but then they are my passion. He has helped build fences and put together chicken coops etc - the manly stuff - oh yes and he loves the eggs!! We do have long discussions about why I need another chicken coop etc and he'll think hes persuaded me out of it but then I'll go and do what I want anyway and he just raises his eyebrows .

[coco]

My OH has very little interest in them, although he did build me a WIR and house two years ago. If its a nice suny day he will go out a throw them a bit of corn, he says he is past caring and has given up with me and chickens now.

[LottyJ1]

I am so pleased i have seen this post!

 

I thought I was the only one!

 

My OH loves the eggs and all the cakes made with the eggs and he likes watching them but he hates the poo and me talking about them (got worse recently as helping set up new BHWT team) and the money (although the horse is a LOT more expensive!) and wont clean them out ever!. But I have to listen to him talking about his bike! nonstop!!!!!!!

 

Ha so funny

[Chortle Chook]

It is Hi Fi and cars with my OH - I thought perhaps if I made an effort to try and listen to him talking about these hobbies he might listen to me about my chicken collection, but it did not work and I soon gave up as hi-fi and cars aren't warm or cuddly, they don't make me laugh or interact with me . . . plus they are mega expensive

[LottyJ1]

Yep I tried also but it doesnt work!

 

Just gotta accept he won't love the chooks like I do!

 

I just know he is concerned how many I will bring home each time we do a rescue!

[Cheeky Chooky]

My OH is wonderful and will do anything for me or for any of our pets...but I know I'm far more passionate about the Chooks than he is ...however I'm not that mad about Football, Drumming or Astronomy so we're quits It's good to have separate interests

[Redwing]

..... and the money (although the horse is a LOT more expensive!)

 

funnily enough my husband has simmered down on the 'spending on the chickens' lectures since we bought two ponies - think the chickens costs pale in to insignificance in comparison

[counturchickens]

I am feeling very luck as my oh is as in love with the girls as much as me. It did take me a couple of years to persuade him to get chickens, but within an hour he was smitten. It took me a while to persuade him a couple of pol as well as the rescue girls would be ok, but he loves the new ones too. He does the daily poo pick, although it does tend to be me that does the house clean. Just need to persuade him that a couple of call ducks will fit right in, although they might not lay a lot of eggs. Apparently this is the criteria for a worthwhile pet, although the cat and retired hens are still here too

[mimi5]

Oh how reassuring to find this thread!!!!! My hubby is quite contrary really!!! We talked about getting the chickens and then I went head (my money)......well he does the same when he wants something! (his money!!!)

 

I think he has been shocked at the costs (well I did buy a wooden coop....cheep and not very good!!! replaced with a cube!!! Ouch!!) Also vet bills and extra bits and bobs.......but he was very sweet about hatching & chicks in the house and helping with poorly chickens and giving meds!!!! But I do find he'll bring them up when he's stressed about money!!! He was also not very understanding of how upset I was when I lost one girl and then a couple of months later another

 

Mostly I think he resents the time I spend with them, but I love pottering in the garden with them!! That will be alot less from now on with the shorter days Might make him happier??

[Jenthelibrarian]

Well - I am surprised to read all these posts ...

 

It was my husband who suggested we get the hens [when I gave up one of my three part time jobs ], found the Eglu on ebay, drove miles to pick it up, built a wooden surround for it and later contrived a clear plastic roof when the spring turned out so wet.

 

He chose and named one of the hens, happily goes out in the cold to let them 'in' and 'out', collects eggs, feeds and waters if he's around and we share cleaning out duties. He always reminds me to find something nice for the hens' 'supper' and just yesterday bought them a tub of mealworms. He had the girls out FR-ing while he worked from home today, as he can watch them from his office, and told me all about their doings when I got in from my job.

 

He used to be the same with our long succession of guinea-pigs when our kids were younger, amusing the neighbours by strolling round the garden with a piggie tucked in the crook of his arm, chatting away to it.

 

Envy me my outstanding husband!

[mimi5]

Ok then Jen I envy you your chicken friendly hubby!!!!! Funny we had bunnies and guineas when my children were younger too!!! My hubby is more of a dog person and has tolerated all my furry friends over our 20 year marriage so I must not complain too loudly!! He did finally get his wish when I fell in love with one of my best friends cocker pups nearly 4 years ago!!

[Lavenders_Blue]

Another largely disinterested OH here. In fairness he has mellowed since his memorable comment in the early days of chicken keeping when he called me "the mad chicken lady - and I don't mean in a good way!"

 

Now he largely lets me get on with it. He's happy to get involved with the DIY side of hen keeping (fence building, coop repairs etc) but all the day to day stuff is down to me. I don't mind that really, in fact when I went to buy some new chickens a few weeks ago he asked me how many I wanted to get. 25, I replied trying to wind him up. The reply came back that he was quite happy for me to have 25 chickens if I wanted to shovel 25 lots of chicken poo every day! I think that means we have reached some kind of understanding between us

[Jules.]

Dissent I'm afraid. They got sold a couple of weeks ago, & the has gone too.

[HennyPenny59]

Oh my goodness For what reason??

[Alis girls]

MY OH was against chooks for ages. But now he loves them, talk to them, picks them up, has helped with first aid, washing dirty bums and the blow dry after and when my back is bad - gets shovel and shovels out pooh in run, bags up for allotment and helps me put fresh cover down. He built a little wooden extention for the new gals and took a long time to make it fox proof - making a lid for it so heavy - only a fox high on steroids could lift it. He wood give them corn and meal worms till the cows come home and they were clinically obese. If we see chickens on telly he shrieks "Ali - sussexes " or "RIR "or whatever is on the screen.He also drove me to chicken shop and then said you chose which ones you want.

 

Now hes out of work and if any of you ladies want to borrow him - it will cost ya Mwah mwah

[Alis girls]

Sorry to hack you all off - he got me a jet spray however he keeps out the way as I am a tad clumsy - and have been know to get a poo rinse.

[charly1979]

My Hubby isn't too bothered by my keeping of chickens, although my comment about adding some bantams did not go down at all well (loads of muttering about expense and too many pets blah blah) .

 

He will happily feed them and let them out and even come out with me a night with a torch to find the odd naughty chicken that has escaped and hidden, and will go out and give them crusts of bread etc and on one occasion he had to get Connnie down from the fence. He was also really good when we lost Pudding and Tullah in the space of 24 hours he helped me find boxes etc. And we have shared the odd romantic moment in the chicken run, I've been doing repairs to the house, electric door opener and he's come out with snacks and drinks for me (very unusual for us) but I do like my girls and boy to know that they live in a loving stable home. And I am also proud to say that he always remembers all 5 names to put on my birthday card that I get from our animals (I even get christmas cards and mothers days cards from my animals with a little gift)

 

The only time he gets annoyed with my girls is when they don't lay because I suppose to him they aren't doing what they are meant be doing luckily his annoyance is all in jest, I think he loves the chickens more than our cats (Eyore & Kanga) and the kids rats (Dasiy Rose & Snowflake)

 

So I suppose in our household its a harmony of some sort (he's happy as long as I don't get a dog )

[HennyPenny59]

I "think" my OH pretends to like them to keep me happy, but im not totally sure ... For example, when he goes out into the garden, (he doesn't think I am looking ) he has to walk past the girls to to get to the garage, they all come running up to say hello, but he completely ignores them But on the other hand, he is always happy to let them out in the morning, and he tells me about the funny little things he sees them do, he is also always happy to maintain their enclosure to keep them safe and sound ... Confusing or what