What a great, entertaining piece! So fun to read. I totally get it; I was chased one too many times by our overly zealous rooster as a kid and have a fear of them as well. That's why we raise quail!
Oh, thank you for sharing! I'm very similar but my phobia is all birds including chickens - and especially dead birds, but really find lives ones difficult too. It took me years after I moved out of home to be able to be able to buy and roast a chook (from the shop) cos I didn't want to handle it. It's taken me years to not have to cross the street if I see a dead bird on the path (and even now I can only walk past if I can easily avoid it and I don't have to look at it). I definitely would massively struggle to pick up a live chicken. The slightest hint of flapping and I'd drop it. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you and you're not the only one.
I had a small flock of Gold Laced Wyandottes in our backyard in Perth (I now live in the Dandenong Ranges). A great breed for backyards - too heavy to fly over the fence, and sassy enough to stare down our Rottie cross (who had happily rounded up our previous chooks - Australorps - when they escaped).
One chook got sick, and sadly needed to be put down, so I made an appointment with the local vet. Bear in mind that this was a very suburban part of Perth, not far from Fremantle.
The vet actually laughed at me.
I don't care, I'd do the same again - yes, they laid eggs, but they were also pets.
What a muntball - i would have thought urban vets were used to dealing with ALL kinds of pets? And Golden Laced Wyandottes are so beautiful,lucky you -
They were recommended by someone running one of those popup petting businesses, and I'm glad I took her advice. I had to leave them behind when we moved to Canberra (my sister in law knew someone with acreage), and I haven't been in a position again to get more chooks. I keep hoping though!
Bravo for articulating your understandable reluctance to touch chickens. Brains are complex beings and learning how to name and describe them allows us to map the neural territory that we have to steward.
Holy moly! Thankyou for your honesty! I too fear the dinosaur birds, but also love them! 😅 I've never heard anyone talk about having this feeling before and the whole time I was reading your post I was holding my heart and nodding my head. Alektorophobia is a new word for me!
As someone with CPTSD completely unrelated to snails, i am absolutely TERRIFIED of them. it’s as though my deregulated nervous system is housed in the little shells on their slimy backs. i hope one day i, too, can stand in my garden, without fear that they will come for me (let alone hold one for any extended period of time for a photograph!).
Thank you, Kirsten. Your writing is a treat, and your story is warming. It reminds me to reflect that when we look at glossy photos in the media and compare ourselves with idealised images, we never know what struggles people are having in the background. It's the real-life stories that bring true inspiration.
Thank you for reading, Anna - and you know, it was only while writing this piece (thinking about the chicken-catching to come) - that i looked back on those pics and thought… aha! That’s my ‘dont make me touch it’ face must look like? So strange. oh well :)
Oh my goodness. I loved reading this!!!!! Thank you for sharing. I'm a Queensland girl and I loved my little "farm"... My girls (chooks all over 10 and 15 years of age), herb and veggie gardens, wildlife... Reading Milkwood posts and books (amongst others), visiting my dear friends goats and permacultured farm and singing happily outside with the Maggie's and kookas .... I am now living in Greece (for the past year) and your email brought me "home" in my mind. Tears over Greek coffee lol. Thank you ... You have gifted me home for a short while. I'm busting to visit hopefully August or September.
This was very entertaining and I loved the photos. I have an irrational fear of small dead things, most terrifying are mice and rats, but rabbits, and unfortunately chickens make the list. No issues if they are alive, but dead... no thanks. Big dead animals are no problem, pigs, sheep, cattle... and if the small ones have no heads, feet or feathers/fur that also becomes ok. So, completely irrational. Glad to know I'm in good company ☺️.
Kirsten ... there's all sorts of wonderful phobias. Mine include fear of: heights and driving on bridges or in tunnels. Pick your poison here: https://remosince1988.com/blogs/stories/phobias
Viva la evil monster dinosaur birds, who lay breakfast indeed. And well done you. Complex trauma is real, and this is no small thing.
thanks babe!
What a great, entertaining piece! So fun to read. I totally get it; I was chased one too many times by our overly zealous rooster as a kid and have a fear of them as well. That's why we raise quail!
Quail are darlings.
Oh, thank you for sharing! I'm very similar but my phobia is all birds including chickens - and especially dead birds, but really find lives ones difficult too. It took me years after I moved out of home to be able to be able to buy and roast a chook (from the shop) cos I didn't want to handle it. It's taken me years to not have to cross the street if I see a dead bird on the path (and even now I can only walk past if I can easily avoid it and I don't have to look at it). I definitely would massively struggle to pick up a live chicken. The slightest hint of flapping and I'd drop it. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you and you're not the only one.
I’m loving all this affirmation! And god how weird and wonderful are our brains? And also I think you are very sensible 🤗
I had a small flock of Gold Laced Wyandottes in our backyard in Perth (I now live in the Dandenong Ranges). A great breed for backyards - too heavy to fly over the fence, and sassy enough to stare down our Rottie cross (who had happily rounded up our previous chooks - Australorps - when they escaped).
One chook got sick, and sadly needed to be put down, so I made an appointment with the local vet. Bear in mind that this was a very suburban part of Perth, not far from Fremantle.
The vet actually laughed at me.
I don't care, I'd do the same again - yes, they laid eggs, but they were also pets.
What a muntball - i would have thought urban vets were used to dealing with ALL kinds of pets? And Golden Laced Wyandottes are so beautiful,lucky you -
They were recommended by someone running one of those popup petting businesses, and I'm glad I took her advice. I had to leave them behind when we moved to Canberra (my sister in law knew someone with acreage), and I haven't been in a position again to get more chooks. I keep hoping though!
That will be a happy day 🐥
Bravo for articulating your understandable reluctance to touch chickens. Brains are complex beings and learning how to name and describe them allows us to map the neural territory that we have to steward.
Holy moly! Thankyou for your honesty! I too fear the dinosaur birds, but also love them! 😅 I've never heard anyone talk about having this feeling before and the whole time I was reading your post I was holding my heart and nodding my head. Alektorophobia is a new word for me!
ha! Welcome to the club 😅
As someone with CPTSD completely unrelated to snails, i am absolutely TERRIFIED of them. it’s as though my deregulated nervous system is housed in the little shells on their slimy backs. i hope one day i, too, can stand in my garden, without fear that they will come for me (let alone hold one for any extended period of time for a photograph!).
wow. yes, and good luck!
Thank you, Kirsten. Your writing is a treat, and your story is warming. It reminds me to reflect that when we look at glossy photos in the media and compare ourselves with idealised images, we never know what struggles people are having in the background. It's the real-life stories that bring true inspiration.
Thank you for reading, Anna - and you know, it was only while writing this piece (thinking about the chicken-catching to come) - that i looked back on those pics and thought… aha! That’s my ‘dont make me touch it’ face must look like? So strange. oh well :)
Oh my goodness. I loved reading this!!!!! Thank you for sharing. I'm a Queensland girl and I loved my little "farm"... My girls (chooks all over 10 and 15 years of age), herb and veggie gardens, wildlife... Reading Milkwood posts and books (amongst others), visiting my dear friends goats and permacultured farm and singing happily outside with the Maggie's and kookas .... I am now living in Greece (for the past year) and your email brought me "home" in my mind. Tears over Greek coffee lol. Thank you ... You have gifted me home for a short while. I'm busting to visit hopefully August or September.
Oh, so happy to bring you home for a sec Rebecca :)
And I've missed my Earth Garden mags. I'll have to pack some when I visit Oz to bring back.
Ha! Yes it was an era :)
Wait - isn’t ‘psittacophobia’ a word???😳
💚💚💚 Ah, the paradoxes of being alive! Great read - thank you for the chuckle.
🐥
Thanks for your openness, Kirsten. That was a fun read. I love my chickens, too.
I really do love them. It is a weird paradox 🤗
This was very entertaining and I loved the photos. I have an irrational fear of small dead things, most terrifying are mice and rats, but rabbits, and unfortunately chickens make the list. No issues if they are alive, but dead... no thanks. Big dead animals are no problem, pigs, sheep, cattle... and if the small ones have no heads, feet or feathers/fur that also becomes ok. So, completely irrational. Glad to know I'm in good company ☺️.
Oh wow. We should form a team! You can touch the chickens while they’re alive and I’ll deal with them after? 🐥
Haha yes we would be a great team!
Great writing Kristen. Compelling.
Thank you for reading, Iona 🐥
I think I wrote Kirsten, as well. But only now notice auto-corrupt crept in. I know you are Kirsten. 💙💙
all good! It’s ‘one of those names’ (i am told, frequently) :)
Kirsten ... there's all sorts of wonderful phobias. Mine include fear of: heights and driving on bridges or in tunnels. Pick your poison here: https://remosince1988.com/blogs/stories/phobias
Yikes! Thank you, I will investigate 🤗