Sounds silly... but what's the best way to catch/pick up my chickens?

[miniwarrior]

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So I have a question- do chickens really like being petted? or is that anthropomorphizing them? I can definitely see that they would learn to associate treats with being fed, and so they would like that. But it doesn't seem like a chicken normally gets stroked or petted in her natural state or with other chickens, so I always wonder if it's something they like or just something we think they like because we like to pet them. don't get me wrong... i love petting my chickens too!! i just don't know if they like it as much as I do

 

[kimbobim]

Quote:
So I have a question- do chickens really like being petted? or is that anthropomorphizing them? I can definitely see that they would learn to associate treats with being fed, and so they would like that. But it doesn't seem like a chicken normally gets stroked or petted in her natural state or with other chickens, so I always wonder if it's something they like or just something we think they like because we like to pet them. don't get me wrong... i love petting my chickens too!! i just don't know if they like it as much as I do

I don't know about enjoying being petted - seems more like they're tolerating it in order to get treats. However, a couple of mine do love rocking on our porch swing. As soon as they see someone on the deck, they hop up on the swing and give you the stink eye until you sit and rock - then they hunker down like they're roosting, and one makes an almost-purring sound. She seems to love it (and we're not feeding her treats or anything, just rocking). She's one of our gals who doesn't much like being handled, so the fact that she loves rocking on the porch swing cracks me up.

 

[Teach97]

I don't handle mine much...ocasional mite inspection or such...I either use a fishing net or the leg grabber thing...mostly I holler at a kid toget me such and such...then sit back and watch the fun! I have had birds that seemed to enjoy or seek out more human contact than others. had a hen that might have been in love with me...then she met this duck who in turn was being stalked by a pigeon who was supposed to be in a monogamous relationship

 

[miniwarrior]

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That's adorable. I hope one day I have a porch swing and that my chickens swing with me...