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 cause young chicks to have positive emotions.
The researchers were from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. They gave 20 baby hens a choice between two different areas, each marked with a colour.
In one area, the hens could interact with a person who gently petted 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. The team said this showed that the chicks had a good experience. But chicks did not avoid the area without interaction.
