Affection Display by Adult Chickens?

centrarchid

Crossing the Road
15 Years
Sep 19, 2009
27,616
22,446
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Holts Summit, Missouri
My free ranging front porch flock lead by an adult pair of American games exhibits what I interpret as affection. The will come to me for food as most chickens do but they will also allow to me to walk along within the flock (includes 13 weaned chicks) as they forage. If I stop for any length of time while within the flock they will begin preening or even lay down, often at my feet. That in itself is a bit odd.

What I interpret as affection is where they will sit next to me and make sounds very similar what contented chicks make although lower in pitch. Also when they walk next to me they rub their tail feathers against my legs. Birds doing this are full adult and parents of chicks.

Flock with rooster to right and hen (mother of 6 chicks) near middle.
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I am surprized a full adult rooster does it, even while his hen and chicks are around. Seems like testosterone would prevent such a display, especially in fighting chickens.
 

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