Do Chickens Like to be Petted?

Interesting article and I liked reading the science behind chickens and affection. There is a little bit of redundancy in this article, but otherwise an educational read.

One thing though, with roosters, even if they're not fluffing up or showing signs of aggression, one should never put their hand near the rooster's front to see if the rooster will let them pet them. Even when not trying to pet a rooster, I've had roosters attack my hand that way. It's something coming toward them that is a threat and will be the most likely to be attacked before anything else.
If a rooster shows no signs of aggression, it's best to approach them from the side. That way, you're not viewed as a predator by coming from behind or as a threat by coming toward the rooster's front. By coming to the side he can see you and decide if you're safe or not. That also allows you time to see if he's going to attack by suddenly turning toward you, face on.
The article did warn to watch the rooster's behavior for aggression, but sometimes it's hard to tell until you're reaching for his chest and are immediately shown that it's too late. If the rooster has proven multiple times that he's fine with being petted, this may be fine, but then again, especially with young roosters, things can change.

Great article! Most of my chickens enjoy being petted, my cockerel loves to have his "belly" rubbed and then I just slip my hand under him and pick him up. He will come to me and stand there and wait for the rub and then to be picked up.

Great information on the social side of chicken-keeping!

Earning their trust is a must.

Very nice article on chicken temperament and how they react to human touch and affection. Great article for new chicken keepers that are curious about how to go about showing or getting affection from their birds.

Excellent discussion on temperaments and social behaviors in a flock.