Finding Solace In Chickens: One Veteran's Fight To Save His Flock and Mental Health

Cats and dogs were out when Iraq war veteran Todd Combs considered pets as a way to cope with the crushing impact of his military service.

Like thousands of other former servicemembers, he struggled with depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts, but his family’s allergy issues prevented him from bringing a furry companion into their home outside Dayton, Ohio. So Combs turned to chickens.

By last spring, Combs had built up a flock of 18 hens, some of which his kids put on a leash and took for walks down the street.

The chickens required a minimal amount of care and attention, and as they scratched the dirt in his backyard, Combs said he finally understood the kind of peace that many veterans have found in the presence of animals.

https://thewarhorse.org/veteran-fight-to-save-emotional-support-chickens/