Care homes and visiting 'pets'.

Germanshepherdsmum

Do you eat poultry or eggs? Have a down-filled duvet, pillow or coat (not that I condone them due to live plucking)?

No, I don’t. They don’t scare me like the living animals do, but I can’t eat poultry, wear their feathers or sleep with feather anything.

I can't describe to anyone how a real phobia feels. It is not a dislike, it is not controllable in any way.
The reaction to the object of the phobia has already happened before your brain catches up. Gut reaction, adrenaline fight or flight (unfortunate saying).
It leaves the sufferer feeling stupid, embarrassed etc etc.
I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Thanks ladies for the replies

Do you eat poultry or eggs? Have a down-filled duvet, pillow or coat (not that I condone them due to live plucking)?

As posters keep saying- the definition of a phobia is that it is an irrational fear.
I agree with the op. I’m having shivers just thinking about the possibility and I am fit, health, early 60s and no where near thinking of care homes!
Those of you “reassuring” us by saying that the hens would not be inside really don’t get it at all! I used to have to take two buses and increase my journey to work by half a hour just to avoid going over a bridge, in a bus, because there were ducks on the river below the bridge. Irrational, inconvenient but far more doable every day.

I do understand phobias I have one, it’s not the same as yours, I will say though you are not in a care home yet, and you don’t even know if you will be, so as much as I sympathise about the chicken scenario. I wouldn’t be thinking about something that far ahead and the fact it may never happen!

Terrific lack of understanding of phobias on this thread! My friend, a practical down-to-earth nurse, has a frog phobia and can't even look at pictures of them. A froglet from our pond found its way into her garden and she was frozen to the spot, poor thing.

Thanks to all who have replied, phobias are not rational as some have mentioned. No doubt chickens are lovely creatures to most, have their theraputic benefits,
Hopefully the care home situation may not happen, fingers crossed, nothing with wings or feathers will be in view.
Mice, rats spiders insects wasps bees snakes, all the usual kinds of beasties don't bother me at all, No idea what started the phobia, and you'd think over time desensitisation would happen as every time I leave the house birds are about.
Maybe I'll buy an old fashioned feather duster, not promising though!
Thanks

My grandchildren’s primary school has a pony, ducks, chickens and more. Each year group has key responsibility for one set of creatures. They’re the opposite end of the age group that benefit from contact with animals

Therapists work with dogs and horses with adults and children

At my Mum’s care home they had visits from guinea pigs, miniature donkeys and baby alpacas. They had a resident cat. They also had 6 duck eggs and watched them hatch out over a while and then enjoyed the ducklings until they got too big and one of the careworkers took them to her smallholding.

When my DM was in a care home, many years ago, I used to take my 2 dogs when I visited her. One of the dogs was originally hers. She was always pleased to see them, as were most of the other residents. They used to try to get one of the dogs to go to them and they made a big fuss of them. Most of the residents had dogs when they were younger. I remember that there were a couple of ladies who weren't interested in the dogs who weren't interested in them either and so would ignore them.

As you say Ellylanes1, not possible to understand unless you live it. If you speak of it, folk are inclined to offer patronising empty reassurances. It is terrifying to think of being vulnerable and having to share living space with these folk. You have to be able to say NO firmly and as back up, write a living will to lodge with medical/care file

Chickens are such fascinating creatures. They are so characterful but I'm not sure that carting them around care homes is the best chicken keeping.

I knew a care home that had chickens - outside ofcourse! Tha residents could watch them through the window and those who were able ( and wanted to) could visit them and help to feed them. They gave them names and enjoyed the eggs. It was considered to he therapeutic. Never inside though.

4allweknow

Can't imagine chickens being inside care homes unless in a cage. Outside in a coop that residents can see or go outside to visit okay but inside questionable.

Maybe they wear nappies...it is a thing!

For several years, our dog club visited a local residential nursing home. In summer, residents who wanted to be involved, were brought into the garden to watch our short obedience/agility display.
We all went indoors for tea and biscuits. The dogs were introduced, or brought to visit residents who had a fondness for a particular dog. The dogs all behaved impeccably. Sitting quietly to be stroked. Yes, people had choice

Can't imagine chickens being inside care homes unless in a cage. Outside in a coop that residents can see or go outside to visit okay but inside questionable.

From my experience of Care Homes, these visits are normally trumpeted with excitement way before they happen which is when you can ask to stay in your room or have it flagged on your Care Plan so that staff know. I would be the same with spiders if that ever becomes a Therapet. I am shuddering at the thought of it.

I have had a few friends and family with bird phobia. My cousin was brought up on a croft with free range hens and managed to cope and is now in his old age. I think if you were to end up in a care home with birds around, you would manage to cope. I think a way would be found to make sure sure that birds were not allowed anywhere near you. What everyone does not understand is that people experiencing phobias and anxiety are not irrational. What a person knows rationally and what a person still feels are two very different thinks. It is horrible having anxiety and phobias. Finding ways of self soothing can help s bit. Good luck.

You really mustn’t le your phobia to make you so anxious about something which might never happen !! My MiL is in a care home, since 2020 they’ve had 1 visit from a donkey, 1 visit from a dog, in both instances they were notified to relatives (us) va email. I don’t think you’ll EVER be in a situation where a bird will be in the same room as you without a prior notification or knowledge. Enjoy the life you have now and don’t allow any worries about what may or may not ever happen to blight the life you have now

When my grandson was small we had chickens, he became very attached to one called Copper, she went everywhere in the garden with him he even took her on the slide, he walked around carrying her, one day we found he had brought her into his bedroom along with another one, he is autistic and related well with animals, when Copper died we had a small funeral and planted a copper tree over the grave😶 I found it odd at the time that she had attached herself to him

All pets make a mess to some degree which is why I dont have any.

There was a news item a few years ago up here (North East) about some old bungalows where the residents were almost housebound or with limited mobility. Many never saw or spoke to anyone for days …… then they got chickens!
I can’t remember where from, or who donated them, but the whole identity of the people changed - they spoke to each other (and the chickens) and enjoyed feeding them and even clearing up after them. It really seemed to give some of them a new lease of life.

Tell the care home Mum’s in about your phobia Ellen./ in the extremely unlikely event that you turn up when they have chickens visiting (not the most hygienic choice so very unlikely) there is always an escape - the door!

Please don’t spend time worrying about something that is most unlikely to happen. And remember, if you eat eggs and perhaps chicken - where did they come from?

Do you know Ellen if you lost the power of communication it would probably be through a stroke or Alzheimer’s and very often your personality changes too and what was frightening as a normal thinking person may well change I think your are jumping the gun and worrying about something that may never happen
a ) you may never go into a care home
b) the care home you ‘may’ go to ‘may’ not use petting animals
c) you may have forgotten your phobia

Stop wasting time worrying about something that may never happen and think about TODAY

Hello GSM, no I'm not a resident yet, but my mother has been for over 10 years.
I suppose I'm afraid that if communication skills are lost, having been wheeled into a home lounge, there would be no escape.
Thanks ladies for all your replies.
Will have to hope for the best.
Seeing this on TV, I was horrified at the sight of chickens being handed to residents sitting at tables.
Possibly I over reacted.
Thanks again