Do chickens really like to be held?

[Susan Skylark]

I am a mere observer on the outskirts of chicken-dom, a simple quail keeper with a curious streak. No anthropomorphizing now, do your chickens actually enjoy being held/handled or do they merely tolerate it or are looking for treats (or other positive reinforcement)? Quail don’t like to be held or even touched, they’ll hang out with you (once convinced you won’t eat them and they can’t eat you) but they don’t like being confined or held or messed with. What about the ‘higher’ poultry, birds with a bit more brain power? Do your hens/ducks/whatever legitimately enjoy human physical contact or do they merely humor you in hopes of food? Interested to see your take on it!

 

[Debbie292d]

I have a very fluffy silkie rooster that puts his head on my chest when I hold him.

 

[Jasfarm]

I genuinely think some of mine really do. They will “purr” and have fallen asleep on me. Some will come to me only for protection and others only for treats, but I do have two that I truly think come just for cuddles.

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

I am a mere observer on the outskirts of chicken-dom, a simple quail keeper with a curious streak. No anthropomorphizing now, do your chickens actually enjoy being held/handled or do they merely tolerate it or are looking for treats (or other positive reinforcement)? Quail don’t like to be held or even touched, they’ll hang out with you (once convinced you won’t eat them and they can’t eat you) but they don’t like being confined or held or messed with. What about the ‘higher’ poultry, birds with a bit more brain power? Do your hens/ducks/whatever legitimately enjoy human physical contact or do they merely humor you in hopes of food? Interested to see your take on it!

Hello My young roosters love being held more than hens. They run to me and I pick it up and walk around with it. When I put it down it follows me and stands on my foot looking up at me to see if there is a place he can jump into my arms.

I have hens that will jump all the way up onto my shoulders, but I think are trying to escape young roosters trying to get fresh.

 

[gemmat820]

Most of mine liked being held as chicks but after they entered the group environment they did not like it as much. Judgement zone maybe?

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I am a mere observer on the outskirts of chicken-dom, a simple quail keeper with a curious streak. No anthropomorphizing now, do your chickens actually enjoy being held/handled or do they merely tolerate it or are looking for treats (or other positive reinforcement)? Quail don’t like to be held or even touched, they’ll hang out with you (once convinced you won’t eat them and they can’t eat you) but they don’t like being confined or held or messed with. What about the ‘higher’ poultry, birds with a bit more brain power? Do your hens/ducks/whatever legitimately enjoy human physical contact or do they merely humor you in hopes of food? Interested to see your take on it!

My chickens don’t like being picked up but love climbing into my lap to stand, lay down, and even fall asleep!

 

[The Birb King]

Yep. I have an Ameraucana hen named Blu that literally just follows me everywhere, never leaves me alone, and loves to be picked up. I can just scoop her up with one hand and she doesn't care. Idk how shes even this friendly considering she was raised by a broody hen.

 

[TooCheep]

It is highly variable. Chickens have individual personalities and some are indeed friendlier and some like to be held while others are more skittish.

• I have one that will jump on my lap and loves to hide her head under my arm. She'll stay there forever until I put her down.
• I have a couple of others that will jump up in my lap, accept some petting and then jump down after a minute or two.
• I have others that will accept some petting on the ground, but won't jump in my lap voluntarily.
• Finally, I have a couple that are very skittish and don't like to be touched.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have a few males that will calm down when I hold them against me, but I don't raise my birds to enjoy handling so it isn't something I check for all of them

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

It depends on the chicken. About half of mine will run up to me when I squat down because they want hugs. The other half will run the other way. My little blind one will talk super loud and come up to me because she wants to be picked up.