Care homes and visiting 'pets'.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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.