My chickens are "purring"...

[AriadneCastro]

Hello folks, good morning/good afternoon/good evening...!

I've always loved psychology and everything my chickens do is subject of analysis! Lol...

So, I've noticed this very cute thing they do, when they are sleepy or when they are on my lap and I'm petting them: it's a subtle trembling, the whole bird vibrates for little bit! It's not an audible purr like cats do (but one can feel it) and it's not a continuos vibration, more like small outbursts of energy. It looks like a manifestation of pleasure and comfort, but I'm wondering if you have noticed the same behavior in your birds, and if there is any academic opinion on it...

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Whenevr I pic my chickens up,they kinda shake....

 

[SueT]

Our young ones, now 7 weeks, make a trilling sound at roosting time as they settle in...

 

[AriadneCastro]

Our young ones, now 7 weeks, make a trilling sound at roosting time as they settle in...

I've also noticed this trilling sound, usually when they go to sleep in the evening, but some have done it while napping on my lap during the day. My guess is that the trill means something like "I'm sleepy and want to be cozy", whereas the purring means something like "I'm comfortable and enjoying the cuddling"...

 

[SueT]

Ariadne, you are on your way to creating a chicken dictionary!