Chicken purring

Rubberparrot · **Posted:** Thu Nov 22, 2007 11:29 pm

Hi Guys
I just got (yesterday) two Langsham Bantam 6 week old pullets (I think thats the term) one is a cross and a third again bigger than the other with a charcoal collar. I've kept them inside because it got cold here all of a sudden and they are too skinny, their keel bones are to sharp with minimal flesh on either side ( I felt like I was rescueing them

) anyway they still peep like chicks I'm assuming this is normal. But tonight I had them in a box at my feet while I watched TV (I want them to recognize me and not be afraid so they'll come when I call and not make an escape and run down the valley behind my yard like their predesessor :cry:

(who incidentally has so far avoided all attempts at recapture and last time I saw her she'd seen me and was hightailing it back in to the undergrowth and is probably going to be a foxes dinner

) I got them to replace as my pekin is unhappy) and they hopped out, up on the couch and I tentatively stroked them (up until that point any attempt :arrow:

at physical contact had met with ducking and fearful peeping) and to my surprise :shock:

they, after a few moments relaxed, and streached their necks out to be stroked and started making this almost purring noise like soft repeative peeping :-D

Is this an experience anyone else has had?
Shanna

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Fri Nov 23, 2007 4:28 pm

Our bantams do that, when the grandkids pick them up and pat them, its a little trilly purrrrr I thought that was normal too :-?

Jeff

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Rubberparrot, do they do it as you are stroking them?

Thanks
P.A :lol:

Rubberparrot · **Posted:** Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:57 pm

Yep they close their eyes and make a sort of trilly purr :-D

it's soo cute they really appear to relish the physical contact I wasn't expecting that from six weekers!!
Shanna

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Rubberparrot, yes we have some of our Pekins do the same but as we move them from pen to pen. They do like human contact!

Thanks
P.A :lol:

jo-chicken · **Posted:** Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:46 pm

It's a sign of being content and a comfort sound that young chicks make, some older poultry too. You will hear chicks do it at night when they are under the hen, it's reassuring them and the hen and communicating that everyone is happy and content. It sounds like these young pullets became very contented once comfortable with your presence.

Jo-chicken

Rubberparrot · **Posted:** Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:50 pm

Today a nice fine day they had their first day down the pen/aviary with my pekin Jemima at first I sat in the pen with them just incase Jemima took exception and they needed to be rescued. Intially they wouldn't get off my lap but after some encouragement they began exploring and tonight when I got them to bring them in (they really are to skinny for me to be comfortable leaving them out over night where they might use up any precious body fat to keep warm) they came running to me and were very insistant about sitting on my lap this evening and purring a lot! It really is sweet I did not expect such affection from chickens I knew they could like you and come running for treats and food and generally be "happy" to see you but this I didn't expect.
Thanks Jo-chicken for your knowledge!
Shanna

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:35 am

I think your right jo-chichen, good explanation :-D

Jeff

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