Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Some of you may remember my post asking for advice about telling the neighbours about our 3 hens (she seems to be scared of everything including her own shadow).

 

Well, I bit the bullet today - he was quite interested and said he'd quite like to keep chickens but, guess what, the wife's scared of chickens!!! What a surprise! I have to wonder though, how do you find out you're scared of chickens? They aren't exactly wandering the streets of our towns and cities terrorising the inhabitants, are they?

[parmaviolet]

[Snowy]

Oh dear!

Maybe you could offer to carry out some aversion therapy on her!

[Egluntyne]

What traumatic experience can she have had involving chickens.

[The Bantam of the Opera]

my next door neighbour was chased by a load of chickens when very young so she is scared of them too

They probably just wantd som treats though, what is a chicken going to do anyway, they have tiny beaks and their claws arent that sharp.

[The Dogmother]

My ex is scared stiff of all birds, including chickens - offers me hours of amusement *cackles*

[Ziggy]

To be fair, it used to scare me a bit when the chooks used to charge in my direction to see what I was bringing them, when we first had them... it had my 7 year old in fits... ('Silly Mama!!! They're not scary, they're just coming to say helloooooo')... and they do occasionally peck at my fingers when I am opening their run, which used to send me stepping right back from them too... After getting pecked a few times and realising it doesn't hurt I got less hesitant... I never minded picking them up when they are out and about, but there is something about their 'charging' that just reminds me of those little vicious dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park movies (don't ask me what they were called, I'm not a jurassic expert)...

[superjules]

Velociraptors!

 

OH says ours look like velociraptors when they press their faces up against the back door trying to get in. He's not keen on the chickens!

[The Dogmother]

You should see all 11 of mine charging down the grass Ziggy - a sight to behold and quite terrifying for people who don't know them - they're 'beak-led' so they just want food

[Ziggy]

11 of them... that's a sight that'd have me run and climb the closest tree!!!

[The Dogmother]

They're only bantams, but they do fair thunder down! I've got a fence across the patio, so those of a nervous disposition can stand behind that

[Olly]

to be fair, I am scared of alligators although I've never had a traumatic experience involving one

 

It's more likely that she's scared of birds generally. Still, what's the problem - she's never going to have to come into contact with them, is she.

 

It will stop her complaining, anyhow - just threaten to set the chickens on her!

[Flo]

I used to be really scared of chickens (actually right up until the day we got them) I was chased into a patch of stinging nettles by some naughty chickens when I was very little and hated them after that.

 

My friend had them and I would really panic when they came near. Really irriational I knowl, but a fear is a fear!

 

I soon got over my fear when we got ous and now I love them!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Maybe I'm being a bit mean then - it's obviously not that uncommon . I think it's just that she's a bit pathetic about absolutely everything so I wasn't surprised when her husband said she was scared of chickens.

 

Re being scared of alligators, I reckon that's quite sensible even if you've never met one! You can imagine what they could do - but chickens?? They're not exactly going to rip off your head and drag you underwater, are they ?

 

I'll try to be more tolerant in future .

[Ziggy]

Dont worry it happens to us all... when my mum goes all disgusted or squeamish about my daughter's rats, I can't help but saying 'Oh for goodness sake, they're only rats, no more scary than dogs, cats and so on', but I guess fears are not something anyone can control...

 

I always had such a fear of spiders, and again although it's common, most spiders in the UK are not likely to cause mortal damage are they? I remedied the phobia by going to a place where you could handle them... I did wonder if I'd pass out when they put the tarantula on my hand, but then I have been alright with spiders since... I don't love them, but they don't freak me out the way they used to... Maybe you could suggest your neighbour holds your chicken on her hands

[Rabbieboy]

Maybe I'm being a bit mean then - it's obviously not that uncommon . I think it's just that she's a bit pathetic about absolutely everything so I wasn't surprised when her husband said she was scared of chickens.

 

Re being scared of alligators, I reckon that's quite sensible even if you've never met one! You can imagine what they could do - but chickens?? They're not exactly going to rip off your head and drag you underwater, are they ?

 

I'll try to be more tolerant in future .

 

Get yourself a pet alligator, at least that will take her mind off the chickens

[chelsea]

Maybe I'm being a bit mean then - it's obviously not that uncommon . I think it's just that she's a bit pathetic about absolutely everything so I wasn't surprised when her husband said she was scared of chickens.

 

Re being scared of alligators, I reckon that's quite sensible even if you've never met one! You can imagine what they could do - but chickens?? They're not exactly going to rip off your head and drag you underwater, are they ?

 

I'll try to be more tolerant in future .

 

Get yourself a pet alligator, at least that will take her mind off the

chickens

 

LOL. eggcellent idea.

OR a snake....if she complains about your chickens ask her if she'd prefer living next door to a snake instead !!!

[Jules.]

I was scared of my chooks at first, too.

[chickencam]

I was scared of the bantam cockeral that we had when I was about 10 he would go for me with his spurs and beak not nice

 

My mum used to make me confront him and it was scary but the right thing to do face your fears and show the chooks who's boss

[The Dogmother]

Lesley has one that does that - I threw a bucket at him once when he went for my legs. He's not scary, just vicious

[The Pearsons]

The two clipped wing birds charge down the run and the others (except Princess) do a fly hop. Princess manages to take off and fly.... but she hasn't worked out the landing yet and usually aims for Tikka. Tikka knows some really unladylike swear squarks!!!!!!

 

Helen in Hume

[Snowy]

The two clipped wing birds charge down the run and the others (except Princess) do a fly hop. Princess manages to take off and fly.... but she hasn't worked out the landing yet and usually aims for Tikka. Tikka knows some really unladylike swear squarks!!!!!!

 

Helen in Hume

They are so funny aren't they!

My araucana babies do some lovely fly bys, but you can see the panic as they think 'OK, now I've got to get down again'. They usually just stop flapping in mid air and land in a heap.

[xsoggyx]

Velociraptors

 

I must agree if you look at them and look into the eye. As for the pecking it does hurt but my wife calls me a wooss so I have to be stong now

 

[The Bantam of the Opera]

actaully i was wrong, i can totally understand a fear of soemthing like a chicken which cant do any real damage because i had a huge problem with daddy long legs for ages, i couldnt stay in a room with one and they made me feel sick. but luckily, since ive got my choocks and i watch them jsut eat them outta the air im just not scared of them anymore, its really weird, i just feel sorry for them now really.

[chocchick]

What a surprise! I have to wonder though, how do you find out you're scared of chickens? They aren't exactly wandering the streets of our towns and cities terrorising the inhabitants, are they?

That's a scary thought

If only they were brave enough to leave the pen

 

Scary...Katy pecked me when the food had gone, totally unprovoked

On the other hand Megan is adorably shy and anxious about life