A study has found that not only cats and dogs but also chickens can enjoy human touch, with researchers reporting that gentle interactions can trigger positive emotions in young chicks.
Researchers at the University of Bristol wrote in the journal Animal Welfare that gentle human contact can elicit positive emotions in chicks.
The study said it was already known that human attention can have a positive effect on stress levels in young farm animals. Until now, however, it had been unclear whether touch is actually perceived as pleasant.
"Our findings show that gentle human contact can trigger positive emotions in young chicks," study leader Ben Lecorps was quoted as saying in a University of Bristol statement.
In the study, 20 laying-hen chicks were able to choose between two separate areas, each marked with a colour. In one area, the chickens experienced gentle interactions with people such as stroking and quiet talking. In the other area, a person was also present but remained silent and neutral.
The chicks ultimately preferred the area where they had received attention, the team found, concluding that this demonstrated a positive association with the experience.
However, this did not mean the chicks would avoid the neutral area without interaction. Rather, their behaviour suggested that an environment with pleasant human contact had an attractive effect.
"The study demonstrates how simple, calm handling has the potential to shape the human-animal relationship from fear-inducing to positive and consequently improve the chicks’ welfare," Lecorps said. – by Patricia Bartos/dpa
