The Funny Farm: Chicken Love

I’ve recently fallen into the trap of watching Facebook reels. They’re addictive; not only are they short, but the content is often engaging and make you want to watch just one more which, of course, leads to just one more. It’s the same for me with online solitaire.

Once you click on a particular subject the algorithm weeds out some topics and pushes others. For me it’s been standard poodle and doodles (I lost my dog 14 months ago and am now dogless), dance of varying styles (which I appreciate as I have no sense of rhythm and cats (I have one) behaving badly. Very few chicken videos have made it into my feed. I’m not sure why not as those birds are endlessly funny with their small heads set upon a round body. Watching videos (especially in slow motion) of a flock running for treats is a laugh. And then there are the sweet ones with birds and their animal friends or loving on their owners.

This post seemed to fit the bill (if only they were reels) and I hope will bring a smile to your Saturday.

Photo credit: Lisa Knarr

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Shelby Grubbs

How do you get these little turd buckets to like or even tolerate you? I want to give them soooo much lovin’ but my four girls would rather sacrifice themselves to the poultry gods rather than let me hold them for 2.4 seconds. Is it a trust build over time thing? Am I unknowingly evil and their spidey senses tingle when I come near? Am I asking too much to want a lil cuddle from my flappy birds? Or are they just lil stuck up brats that don’t have time for their common folk?

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Megan McHenry Keller  

I’ve kept chickens for about 15 years and I’m now down to one last lone chicken named Goldie. She’s an eight year old bearded Polish. We live in a two bedroom apartment in a four-plex. Goldie has a 4’x8’ coop lined with mirrors and chicken stuffies and a 14’x50′ backyard to forage in. She’s allowed to come in the house as she pleases and she’s about 85% trained to poop on puppy pads. We’ve tried to hook her up with several poultry companions and have had to face the reality that she hates chickens. When in a flock she would only tolerate the roosters. Her chosen flock are felines and humans. Though she loves her kittys, she has established herself queen of the pecking order. It is what it is.

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Deb Mims

A few hours ago I returned from taking two of my grandkids and one of their friends on a twelve day, sixteen state road trip. I unlocked the gate and drove down the driveway and not the hubs, not the dog, not the cats, but my chickens came flapping and running up to my car to greet us! They gathered around me, clucking and jumping. They MISSED me!!

Lest you wonder, they’ve been fed and watered and have been given treats the whole time I’ve been gone. They haven’t been neglected at all. The hubs doesn’t like to travel and he’s been taking care of them.

They followed me back and forth between the car and the house flapping all around me, even the flighty ones who rarely even acknowledge my existence. Even one of the two that went broody after we were gone left her nest to follow me around, clucking at me in broody language the whole time!

I’ve gotta say it was pretty amazing, especially when one of them jumped into my arms! NONE of them has ever done this. Most barely let me touch them usually. It was pretty cool!

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Anne Kay  

How long will it take my birds to love me? I raised them from tiny babies, but they are all so scared of me now. They used to eat out of my hand and jump up on me, but now they just run if I even try to pet them. Only one of five will eat out of my hand. They range from 3-6 months old and I spend time with them every day and give them all the yummy treats. I had a vision of chickens running to me with joy and climbing all over me, instead it’s just me pleading with them to love me. Any advice?

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Chicken Noodle Coop

Its been an incredibly hard three days. Chronic pain has reared itself and obviously despises me this time around. I tried falling asleep in the livingroom with Noodle today, nose to beak.

Dozing off and on. I’d peep my eye open to spy on him, he was so intently taking in my face. He would look at my nose as he listened to me exhale. Those beautiful, intent, head tilted glances.

When I’d open my eyes and say, “Hello” or “I love you”, he’d coo and purr at me and huddle back down to rest. He always sacrifices his own naps to watch over me during mine.

I am definitely his Hen.

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Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and photos. Feature photo credit: Here With Us Farm Sanctuary