what kind of petting do your chickens like?

[l'abeille]

I'm new to chickens and just got my new 5 mo old BAs to sit in my lap. I know just how to pet a dog in ways they love but not sure with birds. What do chickens like and dislike?

 

[CrazyPets16]

Well, we have 3 Buff Orpintons, and they like to stroked slowly down their back starting on their neck. Also short strokes on their chest....

 

[teach1rusl]

Oh I'm sure they'll let you know...lol. Mine like soft strokes down the back and on their chests. Three of them also enjoy me gently "kneading" sections of feathers around their neck/shoulder area (kind of like you might do a dogs ears???)...

 

[jojo54]

Lulu likes to be scratched under the chin and around her ears. She closes her eyes and leans into it.

 

[PeeperKeeper]

Up under the chin and under the wings.

 

[shaggy]

none

 

[sillyaboutchickens]

We are still relatively new to chickens, but in the course of our research we visited many friends and farms with chickens. We also attended some chicken swaps. I remember one of the "more seasoned" chicken people teaching my children how to handle chickens and telling them that chickens "are not like dogs and cats" and not to approach them/touch them on the back because that is what a predator would do (how it would approach). A few times people told us to approach the chickens slowly and stroke the breast or underside of the chicken. Some of our chickens don't mind being petted on the back if we are holding them, but we have a few that don't seem to care for that at all.

 

[Mahonri]

My W/BW Ameraucanas love their muffs tickled.. It puts them to sleep.

 

[newduckie]

mine don't want to be touched at all. they are semi wild. certainly do not let me pet them.

 

[suzpyoung]

My silkie cockerel loves full body massages (especially underneath his wings), including his feet! Sometimes he makes little cooing noises and leans into me when I'm doing it.