Monday, July 19, 2010

Alektorophobia

What causes Alektorophobia (fear of chickens) in a 16 month old? So far, my daughter has had only positive associations with poultry. She's been visiting Rancho San Antonio since she was a few months old, watching the chickens prance around and lay very expensive eggs. Maybe she's remembering the annoying rooster we used to hear near our Haight Street apartment. Or, maybe the duck song we sing to her in the bath has caused lingering trauma?

J wimpered at the site of two chickens in Santa Cruz last night. But to be fair to the creatures, she's also been cowering around cats and dogs these days. Any ideas about how to make her less scared of harmless animals? Anyone else with Alektrorophobia out there?