If you think of keeping chicken as a pet then you need to learn how to pet them. The most common way is – moving your hand from the neck to the tail of the chicken with gentle motion and flat hands. Next, when you gain the chicken’s trust, pet them on the neck and chest.
Let’s go through a step-by-step process to pet the chicken and learn how you can make them feel safe, and comfortable and gain their trust. Here we are about to show you how to handle the chickens as a pet.
How to Handle a Chicken as a Pet?
You cannot treat a chicken like a pet dog or cat or cuddle them. You need to handle them with care so that you do not hurt them unknowingly or they should not get stressed out.
To pet a chicken you need to use your hands.
Here are the steps that you need to follow to build a personal connection between you and the chicken. This would also help you handle the bird in the correct way:
Step 1: Approach from Side
Try not to chase the chickens or corner them, as it might scare them. However, you can try to approach them from the side, calmly, and this would also help you to avoid intimidating them.
Step 2: Gently Touch the Chicken
You have to stroke the chicken, keeping the hand flat, from neck to tail, in a slow and smooth motion. This will make the bird feel relaxed and will also provide a soothing experience.
Step 3: Provide Support While Lifting
When you are lifting the chicken, provide enough support to the wings, this would prevent them from being uncomfortable and also won’t scare them. You can also use one arm to cradle the chicken against your body. Use your other hand to support the bottom of the chicken so that it can build trust and companionship between the bird and you.
Step 4: Leave the Chicken
If you find that the bird is struggling to get away from you after you have picked her, then let the chicken go and it will not scare the bird anymore.
Step 5: Do Not Hold for Long Hours
You cannot pet a chicken similar to a dog or cat. They are not quite affectionate and social creatures. Thus, you should hold the chicken only for a short period of time, then leave them, and allow them the space to get into a comfort zone.
What is the Correct Way to Hold a Chicken?
The perfect way to pet a chicken is not to hold them for too long. You can easily understand from the body language of the bird, whether it is willingly enjoying your company. Try to understand how they react to your touch.
Here are the four most appropriate ways of holding a chicken:
- Lifting the chicken where your palm is pressed against the wings of the bird.
- To provide extra support, wrap your finger around the chicken’s belly.
- Keep a check, so that the chicken is unable to flap its wings, and this would lead to almost no injury to the bird.
- Bring the birds close to your chest and do not allow her to hang down.
What are the Petting Areas of the Chicken?
Before you start petting a chicken you need to know about the areas where they would appreciate your touch – They love it when you pat their back and their neck. However, every chicken has their own way of showing affection so some might even like it if you pet their head and tail feathers, while others don’t. Thus, you need to understand how the chicken reacts based on the petting areas. It is always best to start slowly and try to understand and respond according to the chicken’s reaction.
Can Kids Pet Chickens?
Yes, kids can pet chickens but it should be done under supervision. Teach your child to pet the chicken gently. If your child is petting the chicken for the first time, then hold the chicken yourself and make sure that the kids are not holding the feathers, pulling them, or petting them tightly. Make sure that any activity by the kids does not injure or frighten the chickens.
Always demonstrate how to pet the chicken and if required you can use a stuffed toy. Allow them to practice petting the stuffed animal for a week and then allow them to interact with the chicken. When it is time for your kid to interact with the birds, use chickens which are friendly, easy to handle, and do not have many feathers.
Can You Understand Whether the Chicken Likes It When You Pet Them?
Based on the breed and the friendliness of the chicken, you get to determine whether the chicken likes it when you pet them. Some tend to be more affectionate towards human touch while others may not like any kind of interaction. If you find the chicken to be relaxed or falling asleep when you pet them or closing their eyes when you gently stroke them, then these are tell-tale signs that they like it.
You can try to pet the Orpington breed which is known to be quite friendly. However, if you find the chicken is shivering or panting or the feathers are puffed up, then try to avoid any contact.
How Can You Get the Chickens to Like Human Touch?
To make the chickens become comfortable with the human touch, you need to create a bond with them, and for that, you have to start by –
- Let them blend with the process of petting, do not force them or scare them.
- Practice to regularly pet them and hold them so that they can become familiar with you as a caretaker.
- You can also use a sheet or towel to cover them up while petting them so that they can stay warm.
- Keep a gap of 10 minutes between every petting session, do not overdo it or exceed the petting session for more than 20 minutes.
- Regular practice will make them comfortable even outside the coop.
- Most importantly never allow any random people to pet them otherwise they might get used to different people’s touch and would trust everyone. Thus, losing their natural instinct to detect threats.
- You can also try to talk to them daily so that they can see you as a friendly person and also get used to your voice.
How Long Should You Wait to Pet a Chicken?
If you want to pet the chicken, then based on how you raised it, you have to wait for at least 6 months to gain trust. If you have raised the chickens since they were weeks old, then you would be able to pet them within 3 months. A matured chicken needs time to get warmed up and trust the environment and human interaction. Eventually, the chicken will get used to the petting style and start seeing you as a friend.
Why Do You Need to Pet a Chicken?
Chicken do not need to be petted regularly, but if you develop the habit of petting them, then it can help to –
- Relieve the stress and anxiety that often develops due to living in a coop. It provides them with a calming or soothing effect.
- They lay more eggs as petting helps them to relax. It is always a way of socially interacting with other members of the flock and building a bond with the owner.
- Petting also relieves boredom and you get to perform a daily health checkup of the chickens.
Can You Keep One Chicken as a Pet?
No, you cannot keep one chicken as a pet, rather it is always advised to keep a companion as they are social animals and might go into depression if kept alone. It might also affect their health and egg production. Keep at least three chickens together and based on the coop size you can increase the numbers to keep the chickens happy.
