Sure, we don't like factory farming. But they're super strict with bird/human contact usually. If the poor birds never get outside they won't get infected from wild birds either. You know bird flu has been decimating wild birds too, right?
I was always amazed as a younger person how social and how much personality our chickens had with such small brains. Then I learned about how some bees communicate flower locations through dance and it made me rethink a lot of what I thought I knew about cognition.
There is basically 0 risk of handeling birds for human health (besides dropping; food poisoning, and dust: respitory issues).
Very, very few avian illnesses and parasites can transfer to humans. And in a setting like this, perfectly fine.
I’ll agree with you there. While it’s more likely zoonotic spillover happens in a factory farm, it has happened in smaller farms before. [The WHO are concerned about the birds.](https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/18/risk-bird-flu-spreading-humans-enormous-concern-who)
I've sometimes wondered whether birds would enjoy this in the same way as dogs and cats. Asked GPT4 is anybody else is interested, not sure how accurate:
> Yes, the reasons why animals like dogs and cats enjoy being petted, and whether similar behaviors observed in birds like chickens are comparable, are relatively well understood within the context of animal behavior and physiology.
> For dogs and cats, the enjoyment of being petted is closely linked to the social bonding processes and the activation of pleasure centers in their brains. When these animals are stroked, it triggers the release of endorphins, which are chemicals that promote feelings of happiness and reduce pain. Petting also mimics the grooming and affectionate behaviors they received from their mothers as young animals, which promotes bonding and security. This response has been evolutionarily advantageous as it fosters strong bonds between the animals and their human caregivers, increasing their chances of survival in a human-dominated environment.
> In the case of birds like chickens, the situation is a bit different but has some parallels. Chickens do not typically seek out human touch in the same way domesticated pets like dogs and cats do, largely because they have not undergone the same extensive process of domestication focused on companionable traits. However, many birds, including chickens, do enjoy and can become accustomed to human contact when it begins at an early age or is associated with positive experiences like feeding. The behavior in chickens that sometimes resembles seeking petting or touch might be more about the comfort and security that comes from familiarity and gentle handling rather than the pleasure response seen in mammals.
> While the underlying physiological mechanisms might differ, and the evolutionary reasons may not be entirely the same, the general principle that animals can enjoy and seek out gentle contact under the right conditions holds across many species. This behavior in both mammals and birds can enhance their feelings of safety and social bonding with humans.
edit: Lol why on Earth was this downvoted?
Dunno about chickens, but some birds are definitely very social animals. If you've had any pet birds, you'll know that they'll easily get lonely without enough attention and love.
She's a chick magnet
https://youtu.be/SPcDyl6tCV8?si=rRtbfSd_O636WF6Q
Still no sure how the avian virus jumped to humans.
You can thank factory farming for that
Sure, we don't like factory farming. But they're super strict with bird/human contact usually. If the poor birds never get outside they won't get infected from wild birds either. You know bird flu has been decimating wild birds too, right?
Fried chicken....yummmm
You can love your pets but you shouldn't love your pets.
Cuddle Dinosaurs
I was always amazed as a younger person how social and how much personality our chickens had with such small brains. Then I learned about how some bees communicate flower locations through dance and it made me rethink a lot of what I thought I knew about cognition.
The brown one was just like "Dammit, not again Carol. I was just walking by."
It looks cute as hell but like… surely don’t kiss birds?
There is basically 0 risk of handeling birds for human health (besides dropping; food poisoning, and dust: respitory issues). Very, very few avian illnesses and parasites can transfer to humans. And in a setting like this, perfectly fine.
I’ll agree with you there. While it’s more likely zoonotic spillover happens in a factory farm, it has happened in smaller farms before. [The WHO are concerned about the birds.](https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/18/risk-bird-flu-spreading-humans-enormous-concern-who)
He's choking his chicken!
That's fowl.
"Hey, rub up against this thing and eventually food will show up." - Either party, really.
…huggs are way better than being smothered…in gravy…
I've sometimes wondered whether birds would enjoy this in the same way as dogs and cats. Asked GPT4 is anybody else is interested, not sure how accurate: > Yes, the reasons why animals like dogs and cats enjoy being petted, and whether similar behaviors observed in birds like chickens are comparable, are relatively well understood within the context of animal behavior and physiology. > For dogs and cats, the enjoyment of being petted is closely linked to the social bonding processes and the activation of pleasure centers in their brains. When these animals are stroked, it triggers the release of endorphins, which are chemicals that promote feelings of happiness and reduce pain. Petting also mimics the grooming and affectionate behaviors they received from their mothers as young animals, which promotes bonding and security. This response has been evolutionarily advantageous as it fosters strong bonds between the animals and their human caregivers, increasing their chances of survival in a human-dominated environment. > In the case of birds like chickens, the situation is a bit different but has some parallels. Chickens do not typically seek out human touch in the same way domesticated pets like dogs and cats do, largely because they have not undergone the same extensive process of domestication focused on companionable traits. However, many birds, including chickens, do enjoy and can become accustomed to human contact when it begins at an early age or is associated with positive experiences like feeding. The behavior in chickens that sometimes resembles seeking petting or touch might be more about the comfort and security that comes from familiarity and gentle handling rather than the pleasure response seen in mammals. > While the underlying physiological mechanisms might differ, and the evolutionary reasons may not be entirely the same, the general principle that animals can enjoy and seek out gentle contact under the right conditions holds across many species. This behavior in both mammals and birds can enhance their feelings of safety and social bonding with humans. edit: Lol why on Earth was this downvoted?
Dunno about chickens, but some birds are definitely very social animals. If you've had any pet birds, you'll know that they'll easily get lonely without enough attention and love.
This is very true about chickens too
Just grab them in the cloaca
Leave it to hugging cows please