[Aidy]

For ages we (the kids and me) wanted chickens, the good wife dont, she has had her way for a good many years, but as I have not mentioned them now for a while i thought the time has come again to see if I can attack from another angle so I am now enlisting you good ppl of the forum to come up with a cunning plan. We have tried the softy approach by visiting a friends place that has them so she could the kids with them, we have tried the fresh egg road but to no avail. HELP!

[naturesparadise]

have you tried the Little fluffy chick rout  or the hatching eggs rout  

[poultrygeist]

Aidy,

What are your OH's objections ?

Can we attack each one so there's no logical argument against them.

NP's suggestions sound good. Appeals straight to the heart. Plus all the chicken manure you can shake a shovel at. Get even better veg.

Rob

[Bodger]

Change the locks when she's out.

[kooringa]

My OH was totally 100% against them.  

One evening, out of the blue, (best tact) I just asked him to list each objection.  Properly - not just 'Cos I don't want them/like them etc)

Then  I went through each one - there were lots - and talked logically through them.

EG. - 'They are a tie.'
Only the same as any other pet - and in some cases less than others.  You can leave chickens for a long weekend PROVIDED you provide lots of water (and I mean lots on the summer), and food (you can get big feeders for chickens).  You may come back with a heap of eggs in the nest boxes that's all.

You can ask a neighbour or friend if you are going away to feed and water them - and they can have the eggs as a reward.  A sensible teenager would love the job of 'chicken sitting' for a week or so.

Mess/Smell/Flies - with good animal husbandry these can be avoided.
Clean them our regularly - I used Aubiose or Hemcore which is brilliant. A sprinkling of  Stalisan keeps it all fresh, keeps the flies at bay, and other bugs.   Garlic in their water or garlic granules in their food - stops their poos from smelling - yes really.  I leave a couple  of cloves of garlic in their water all the time.

As I mentioned - they can be a list of objections, but all can be talked through sensibly.

End result - providing its you that takes full responsibility, cleans them out, feeds them, etc etc and agree to abide by all the concessions - then no reason why you can't get them.  

Guess who makes more fuss of the chickens now - yes you've guessed it.  But I still do all the looking after etc - he gets the good bits and throws them any nibbles or left over porridge etc to they follow him around like the Pied Piper.

If all else fails ( but I am sure it won't ) - there is always the 'Actually dear, I am an adult of xx age, and I really don't need to be told what I can and can not have'  (Not in a raised voice of course)


 

[babe]

its really easy, get a couple, hide them in the garden.

next day you find them by surprise, someone must have chucked them over the fence.

it really does happen, ive seen it first hand. someone always seems to throw them into my garden just before dad pays a visit  :roll:

and im sure there's someone else on this forum (mumsy) who has seen something similar

[Aidy]

ta, loads of good suggestions, the bodger one sounds good  :twisted:  but logicaly i will take kooringa's tact me thinks, tried the fluffy chick, if it screamed for milk, wrapped in a blanket with a nappy on, well it will be in before i can blink an eye. maybe a trip to a livestock market one weekend with the kids  

[naturesparadise]

well you could go with this

LOOK IM THE MAN OF THE HOUSE AND WE ARE HAVEN THEM END OF

     

but this way you could end up in the garden shed forever  :shock:    

[babe]

well you could go with this

LOOK IM THE MAN OF THE HOUSE AND WE ARE HAVEN THEM END OF

     

but this way you could end up in the garden shed forever  :shock:    

behave NP, or i'll tell your mum  

[Vember]

Just get them and tell your O/H that they were destined for that bad place where un-lucky chickens go   I'm sure you know where I mean!

  Works for me my normal saying is "I couldn't leave them, knowing what was going to happen to them"      

[Chappers]

Get some ex batts and tell her that after years of eating their eggs and adding to the demand which keeps them in those conditions you feel that its only right and proper that you should adopt some so they can enjoy a happy retirement. If she says that she buys free range then tell her about all the other products that battery eggs go into. Failing that just go and get some along with a bunch of flowers. She will stop sulking after a week or so and the peace and quiet will be worth it  

[bedifferent]

Does the garlic thing really work!! :?:

Do the eggs smell a bit.......french?

[alibean]

Yep, would definately go with chappers suggestion and tug on the heartstrings.  It worked with my OH and he is a confirmed carnivore who would shoot anything soon as look at it.

[NormandyMary]

Great idea Chappers. No one could ever refuse an ex batt. Even the coldest hearts would melt!

[Aunt Sally]

Yes, the garlic really does work and does not flavour the eggs either