People and their attachments to their hens

[RichmondHens]

I too can see both sides, and have birds myself of both types - some gorgeous, pet like and cuddly, and others I can't wait to get in the pot because they drive me mad! The surplus bantam cocks are the worst, they seem to turn into mad shrieking creatures who run/fly away from me even when I just go in to fill the feed hopper. They hide in the shed and won't come out till I'm gone. Or perhaps they just know what their ultimate end is going to be .......... and are reacting accordingly!

At the other end of the scale I've got a few "cuddlies" who will run and see me every time I appear and are happy to be scooped up and snuggled. Latest addition to this is my smallest Minorca who despite having had relatively little attention from me is desperate to get on my foot each time I go into their enclosure, regardless of whether I bring treats or not. She just seems to like the attention.

The hardest one though is the cross between the two, a cock I have destined for the pot, but is so tame that even if he gets out (which he has been doing a lot lately) will let me catch him up and cuddle him with no fuss. Do you think he is trying to win me over?

[mr darcy]

yes keep him!

[RichmondHens]

Ha ha ha - my husband won't thank me if I do. We've already got more than we need and are re-arranging enclosures and hens so that all the cocks have a little harem each. I rescued 3 cocks before Christmas and have said I will not eat those, so have had to accommodate them. Two have stayed together but the third bigger one has had to go in with the larger laying group. It's not possible to keep mature cocks without giving them at least a couple of ladies each, as otherwise they get horny and fly into the other pens and cause havoc.

No. I'm afraid dear little Wonky will have to go. He has been advertised for sale but no takers.

[glasgowdan]

Mine are just reds, owned from POL. I'm not the pet type at all, mabe in basic terms that's what it boils down to. I'm a nuts and bolts man that does things that achieve something, and to me spending time with an animal doesn't benefit me.

Nice thread to read though, thanks for all the input. Time to clean the girls out, tally-ho!

[mr darcy]

Mine are just reds, owned from POL. I'm not the pet type at all, mabe in basic terms that's what it boils down to. I'm a nuts and bolts man that does things that achieve something, and to me spending time with an animal doesn't benefit me.

Nice thread to read though, thanks for all the input. Time to clean the girls out, tally-ho!

did you say clean 'the girls' out?

[kirsty b]

Ha ha ha - my husband won't thank me if I do. We've already got more than we need and are re-arranging enclosures and hens so that all the cocks have a little harem each. I rescued 3 cocks before Christmas and have said I will not eat those, so have had to accommodate them. Two have stayed together but the third bigger one has had to go in with the larger laying group. It's not possible to keep mature cocks without giving them at least a couple of ladies each, as otherwise they get horny and fly into the other pens and cause havoc.

No. I'm afraid dear little Wonky will have to go. He has been advertised for sale but no takers.

How far north in Norfolk are you, am looking for some more POL, but have not ruled out a lad at some point. Only thing that I'm wary of is noise and risk of complaints.

My ex-bat girls are there for eggs, but they are more pet than not. If I hatch with the current incubation, boys are destined for the pot, ladies will be kept for laying. Do get a lot of pleasure from watching them go about their business.

[glasgowdan]

did you say clean 'the girls' out?

Yes you got me there! There is a tiny bit of affection lurking deep within, but I hate to admit it

[Bephlam]

Hi Bephlam

What breed do you have, they sound like the sort I would have if allowed?!

I have a few breeds, but the teddy bear birds are my Faverolles. They are really stupidly friendly...purr like a cat and cuddle in to you and fall asleep. They are HUGE though...bigger than my Lhasa Apso dog....so you need a bit of room for them.

[lettucegrow!]

Ah ha! We knew it would come out if we kept you chatting!!

[Bephlam]

I can't believe that time spent with animals does not benefit someone....they are food for the soul. I cherish every moment I spend with ANY animal...pet, chicken, wild bird, cow in a field, little snail...they are all living, breathing creatures.

I agree Hilary...the feelings you experience when you lose a 'pet' can sometimes be hard to deal with, but I'd never deny myself the emotional attachment to a living creature in order to save myself from having to feel something when they are no longer with us. It's all part of life...whether it be a human life, or an animal. We love...we feel...we lose...we feel. It's a learning curve...it's life experience...and it's always worth it...the good times, and the bad!

Wow...something I'm passionate about...clearly!

[Snadger]

I have a few breeds, but the teddy bear birds are my Faverolles. They are really stupidly friendly...purr like a cat and cuddle in to you and fall asleep. They are HUGE though...bigger than my Lhasa Apso dog....so you need a bit of room for them.

And my Faverolle cockerel is even bigger and cuddlier and gets henpecked off the laydees..............

To the point I'm beginning to wonder whether he's gay or not??????

[RichmondHens]

How far north in Norfolk are you, am looking for some more POL, but have not ruled out a lad at some point. Only thing that I'm wary of is noise and risk of complaints.

My ex-bat girls are there for eggs, but they are more pet than not. If I hatch with the current incubation, boys are destined for the pot, ladies will be kept for laying. Do get a lot of pleasure from watching them go about their business.

Kirsty I'm pretty north, about 15 mins from the coast (Holt/Sheringham area). Don't have any girls for sale though. Only a few surplus boys and they are now up to weight so will be going very soon.

I'm not a commercial breeder by the way, so don't have birds for sale on a regular basis, but do sell a few "surplus to requirements" from time to time.

[kirsty b]

Got breeders close to me that I can get POL from (wasn't fishing ), was tempted to offer your boy a home so I could attempt to incubate fertile eggs of my own. But you are a good couple of hours from me I think.

[Hilary B]

I can't believe that time spent with animals does not benefit someone....they are food for the soul. I cherish every moment I spend with ANY animal...pet, chicken, wild bird, cow in a field, little snail...they are all living, breathing creatures.

I agree Hilary...the feelings you experience when you lose a 'pet' can sometimes be hard to deal with, but I'd never deny myself the emotional attachment to a living creature in order to save myself from having to feel something when they are no longer with us. It's all part of life...whether it be a human life, or an animal. We love...we feel...we lose...we feel. It's a learning curve...it's life experience...and it's always worth it...the good times, and the bad!

Wow...something I'm passionate about...clearly!

In general terms I would agree (you have seen pics of Gemma, she's my Avatar), but I wouldn't let myself get that fond of a chicken, because they die so readily (whether of age, illness or fox). I save that level of closeness for pets that are likely to be with me a long time. That is (in part) why I am not so 'cat oriented' as dog, because my first cat was killed on the road, and I've had others injured or die as a result of having their freedom to BE cats, so I get wary of investing emotion in them any more.
When I finally lost Cuddles the Cochin, at least I had his daughters. I had semi-pet sheep on the farm too, but they were never as close as the goats or the dog.

[Bephlam]

I see what you're saying...but cannot agree. I don't believe it's about 'investing' time or emotion...it's just about experiencing life...in all it's forms...no matter how brief a moment you share with a living creature...it's a moment well spent.

Does the length of time you 'invest' in something make the entire experience more rewarding to the soul? A moment is a long time...if you only spend a day with your chicken...you've loved it and cared for it it's entire lifetime.

It may not be a long time...but it's a lifetime...and for me, I can't give those feeling only to things that will give me the longest/greatest amount of time.

People and animals affect me in whatever way they affect me...and I give them my time and energy freely...regardless of how much I get back, because I want to...because it makes me value my time spent with them...because it makes us all better people!