Many people think that only dogs wag their tails. But this isn’t the case chickens have been seen waging their tails as well. So, why do chickens wag their tails?
Chickens wag their tails to move fluids from their tail-end glands to their feathers before preening, to release old feathers, and to display emotional states such as happiness. These animals also show happiness in other ways including making loud noises, running around and some say you can see happiness in a chicken’s eyes.
Have you ever seen chickens wag their tails before? Strutting around, pecking and clucking are what we’ve come to expect from chickens. Then they go do the cutest thing, they wag their tail feathers.
I’m almost convinced it’s some kind of dancing, or is there something else to this? Just why do chickens wag their tails? Whether you think it’s cute or hasn’t seen them do it, the next few lines will open your eyes to see chickens in a whole new light and explain their tail wagging.
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Why do chickens wag their tails?
Poultry farmers and chicken pet owners think that the tail wagging is some sort of happy dance. But, vets have shown that it appears to be a way to move body fluids around from the glands in their tails, to manicure their feathers.
Ornithologists indicate that it’s like the ruffling and shaking of feathers done by other birds. Birds such as ducks, peacocks, and others, shake their tail feathers for several reasons.
Male peacocks shake both to attract their mate and to get rid of loose tail feathers. Ducks wag their rear ends when they walk to maintain balance.
So, the chicken wag may be a way to maintain balance or an act of letting go of loose tail feathers.
All in all, we can summarize and say that tail wagging chickens do it to move fluids from glands in their tails, to maintain balance, to groom and show happiness.
How do you know when a chicken is happy?
Since tail-wagging has other functions it’s not enough to show happiness. Yet poultry farmers and vets agree that happy chickens are active chickens.
They strut around in a happy go lucky fashion scratching the ground and lounging in grass or earth for a sun and dust bath.
Happy chickens don’t keep quiet either. They make noises, the noises include coos, burbles, trills, and chatter as they move about.
Chicken owners say you can even see happiness in their eyes if you look closely enough.
Do chickens show affections to humans?
If they can be happy and show happiness can they be affectionate to us humans? The answer is yes. While they may not have much for brains, they are affectionate birds.
Reports have claimed that sad chickens coo weakly and mournfully even walking slouched. An angry chicken rages with frantic clucks, loud calls, and guarded wings.
A friendly chicken will rest in your lap and eat directly from your hands. I’m no poultry psychiatrist but these behaviours and willingness to buddy up to us humans show forgiveness, emotions, and affections, wouldn’t you say so?
What does it mean when a rooster wags its tail?
Some say that roosters are even more affectionate than hens. A rooster’s colourful tail feathers may have been a way to attract female mates.
Now domesticated and crossbred to have even more colourful tail feathers and strength, roosters wag their tails for more than just moving body fluids, balance, and shaking out old feathers.
Roosters wag their tails to signal their manliness, territory, proudness, and happiness too.
How do you bond with chickens?
Like any other relationship bond, it takes time to bond with chickens. Chickens are cautious creatures who slowly trust and become comfortable with human presence over time.
It’s easier to bond with smaller chicks as they innocently gravitate to humans out of curiosity more easily than older chickens.
Bonds can become stronger as comfort levels grow and you offer treats. Soon they will be flocking to you, pecking at your shoe and napping in your lap as comfortably bonded.
Why do chicks peck at me?
You may be wondering “if chickens are so friendly why do they peck at me?” They do this both out of curiosity as well as friendship.
Chickens are birds who preen their feathers and preen those of their friends as well. They also affectionately, curiously and fondly peck to create fond memories.
Do chickens miss their owners?
It seems chickens do miss their owners if you own chickens you may have noticed this phenomenon.
Studies of highly domesticated chickens have shown that chickens submit to human owners as their alpha lead, even performing less actively when that alpha is away.
Conclusion
Chickens wag their tails for several reasons. To move fluids from tail-end glands to feathers before preening, to release old feathers, and to display their emotional states such as happiness.
As flocking birds, they do show affections. They build relational bonds over time with us humans, even missing us and the occasional affectionate peck.
If you’re interested in chickens you may also be interested in these articles: when do chickens start laying eggs after winter, why do chickens eat feathers, how to get chickens to sleep on the roost, why do chickens have wings, how to get chickens to lay bigger eggs, why do chickens cluck, click the links to read more.
