Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
A study has found that cats and dogs are not the only animals that enjoy human touch – chickens do too. Researchers report that gentle interactions can trigger positive emotions in young chicks.
In a study by researchers at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, 20 baby hens were given a choice between two different areas, each marked with a colour. In one area, the hens could interact with a person who gently stroked them and talked softly. In the other area, a person was there but didn’t say anything or show any emotion.
The chicks liked the area where they got attention, according to the team. They concluded that this showed the chicks had a positive experience. However, this did not mean the chicks would avoid the neutral area without interaction.
