Creature Comforters

[oldangrey (deleted)]

Ok some of you are going fall out of your chairs laughing at me but i dont care,, i was a couple of years ago very stressed out, the doc put me on various pills and potions, all these did was send me inside myself, and not want to come out for anything, a friend paid me a visit, as we sat chatting over a cup of tea, she mentioned her Father had to get rid of his chickens, he was going into a retirement home, i said i would have them,, i spent a couple of days making a hut and pen, then they came, talk about funny,, i spend at least an hour a day out there just looking and watching them, they have turned my life around, they take my stress and depression and make it in to laughter and joy,, i dont take the pills no more ( not for 2 years),, i have got more chickens, this means more fun for me,, i am not saying for you all to go out and get chickens, But a PET of some kind, a gold fish, hampster, dog or cat,, they dont take much but they give LOTS,,,,, Den xxx

[hotwheels66]

I enjoy talking to oldangreyso much that i have thought about going out and getting chickens myself,lol . I think that anything that makes you smile and keeps ya going, is great!!! Kudos to you OldanGrey for sharing something that personal.
Love ya Hotwheels

[oldangrey (deleted)]

I have managed to get some fertile eggs ( i dont have a cockbird) opps i mean a male chicken to mate with the hens, so thier eggs wo'nt hatch, anyway i have got hold of 3 fertile eggs, as one of my chickens has gone broody (into mother mode), i am hoping that in 21 days they will hatch and little biddy chicky wickies will be running round,, i will keep you all posted,,,,,,,,,,,,.

[oldangrey (deleted)]

Out of the original 3 eggs, 1 got broken, the other 2 hatched in the last couple of days, i now have 2 new bouncing baby chickens, and you know what I DONT FEEL ANY STRESS, its amazing[/img]

[bobbyironsight_PREV (deleted)]

Yup, I'm with you on this one...

I've also read that pet owners tend to live longer than those who live without pets.

I'm not sure if it helps me, but I have both fish...which are nice to watch swim languidly around their abode..

And I also have a gerbil that I inherited. I used to hate the little bastard, as it chews its bedding intermittently and is tres' annoying. But he's grown on me.

I think it's a power and control thing, you see, at first he was terrified of me. That's not unusual as rodents are pretty damn nervous creatures. And they should be. Every raptor in the forsest wants to make a meal out of them, and most other carnivores too. That would make any creature not habitually nervous.....into a meal.

But now I've managed to extinguish the little bastards natural instincts through the processes of both pavlovian and operant conditioning...,"See Dad!"...,"that year and a half as a psych major wasn't wasted after all!"

First I just picked him up like thirty times a day for a few seconds, held him gently, and then gently placed him back in his cage.

I did that for a couple months, until he'd just lay quietly in my hand, then I started to rub behind his ears and pet him, not easy with an animal as small and delicate as a gerbil. A month of that and he's no longer bothered by being handled.

Now I've moved on to the operant conditioning phase, I hold the food outside the cage in the palm of my hand, and make a clicking noise with my tongue/teeth.

He has to jump into my hand, grab the food, and then jump back into the cage....he seems to be getting the hang of it, but his natural antipathy towards voluntary handling is still alive and well...I can tell because he does seem to eat less, now that he has to come and get it, and sometimes he's hesitant.

But still, now that I've taught him to do something...I like him better than I did, when he ran away from me.


So...here's my words of possible wisdom for today......***note*** (I reserve the right to be wrong). You will always fail more than you succeed, but; that being the natural order of things...don't whine about it...just keep on keeping on.

[pinkshamrock (deleted)]

I agree with you... i think pets do give some joy and laughter to a persons life. my rabbit has given me alot of joy. i still miss my friend that passed last year but having my rabbit to love gives me some peace. my cinnomin makes me laugh all the time which in returns makes me very happy. She's my silly wabbit........ =)

[pinkshamrock (deleted)]

turn stress into SMILES/laughter in which you oldangrey...... you go boy :)

[mobileal_PREV (deleted)]

Oldangrey, I feel your joy. I had chickens before. I started with 6 little baby chicks. I kept them in the house for about two months I guess. I saw them grow up day and night and lived with their sounds and it warmed my heart. I had to take them outside when they got so large that they would fly/float (chickens don't fly) down and land on my computer when I was spending time there. Other times, I'd wake up and there would be one either standing on my pillow looking at me or perched on my head as I slept. It was so cool. I was in a deep clinical depression and pretty sedated on phych meds and these little wonderful babies helped me to realize the meds were not helping. One of the chicks grew up to be a big rooster and I called him Big Red. He would walk up to me sideways and run away. I would tell him, if you don't leave me alone, I'm going to pick you up. He was about 10 or 12 lbs by that time. When I picked him up, he just stayed there relaxed and I would pet him. It was really cool. He was funny too. I had a dog and BigRed would fight and run my dog away. My dog was cool. She didn't try to hurt BigRed even though she could. My dogs are all that I have left now after moving and they are a real life saver. I have agoraphobia and dissociation. I've trained one and in the process of training the other to be service dogs and they do their jobs to get me moving when I just want to veg at this computer. I always ask them, what would I do without you. I don't think I'd still be alive.

Jayni

[ladyblueeyes01]

Hi
I enjoyed reading this thread it made me smile...I like chickens too...I like the sounds they make...crooning and clucking I think they are really funny and I would love to keep them myself
I hope those little chicks grew up big and strong for you and maybe one was a rooster? you never know
I have a dog as my companion he makes me laugh and when I feel fed up he always knows and makes me pay attention to him its uncanny how he does that

thanks for cheering me up

[wausaukee]

.I think I LOVE YOU.
I know it kind of immature.
but I want you to write me back ok?

[simplemindedman (deleted)]

.Hi my name is chris I live 45 miles north of atlanta I am looking for a life long partner to spend my life with I am interested in what you think about you and me getting together.

[feedback]

[deleted]

[feedback]

...

[(deleted)]

.Hello, my names is lily and it nice to meet you guys.
I'm hard of hearing and I can literally speak but I don't hear much as well. I guess you wouldn't mind and I guess this is what disabled passions are. =o)
I'm very friendly, funny, sweet, most of the time shy at first.