How do you pet a chicken?

[Linda in San Diego]

We have had parrots for ages, starting with cockatiels and moving on up to many others. Parrots like to be scritched. Scritching means rubbing with thumb and pointer finger just behind the head and ears, it is also appreciated along the jaw bone. We have to be careful not to scritch too far down the body because you can cause some romantic interest with some parrots. Then they love you too much and want to regurgitate their food for you. (I know Too Much Information)

But now we have the Delightful Dozen. I am trying to charm them without creating problems. Today, when I had successfully held 4 of my hens, I decided that too many full sized hens wanting to be on my lap could be a problem.

But, to the main question, how do chickens like to be scritched/petted?

 

[eggcochin_freak5]

well, you can stroke their necks to calm them a little....i've always heard that....it does work...i've tried, goo luck

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I've always stroked mine, down the neck, down the back, down the chest, basically with the feather growth. I've tried scritching, mine don't care for it.

-Kim

 

[augiedranch]

mine dont really like being pet on the back. but they love the neck. the side where the throat is. go between the waddles and up and down the bottom of the neck over the throat. they LOVE it. itll usually make them fall asleep

 

[Matt A NC]

My birds Dot, Snickers(<---avatar), and several others big, small, and giant like to be held in a lap with their crop in your hand. This is always after treats and the crop is full. They will go fast asleep and stay that way till they have digested a good part of their treats.

Once they are comfortable they like to be petted down the back constantly. If I stop they look at me because they weren't finished with their nap and spoiling time.

Dot my bantam rooster also likes his wattles gently massaged.

Matt

 

[Linda in San Diego]

SWEET! Thanks for the information. Late this afternoon, Jackie Blackie (girls cannot be named Jack Black), hunkered down on my knee. I could feel her cold feet through my jeans and I was sure she liked the warmth I added. She also liked being stroked. I love it, chickens have been given a bad name!

 

[Jolyn]

Quote:

Jackie Blackie......Love that!!!!

 

[chicknhawaii]

Chick-Chick likes the sides of her comb rubbed (I haven't tried the wattles yet) and also her chest.

She's not too into the neck thing or the scritch thing but she does seem to like when I stroke both of her wings with the feathers, one hand on each wing. LOL I hope that made sense!


p.s. Jackie Blackie...cute!

 

[JustChicky]

I pet all of my chicks on the back gently. One of my chicks likes her tail scritched.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
Yeah, chickens are great. Sweet, smart, loving. After I got my first ones I actually said "OMG, they really are birds!!!!!" LOL