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How to Hypnotize a Chicken: Two Easy Ways to Calm Birds

A relaxed chicken is a happy chicken; try chicken hypnosis!

Image Credit:
Photo by 4028mdk09-Wikimedia Commons
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Wonder no more! Here’s how to hypnotize a chicken. Learn to calm a high-strung bird with the oscillating finger method or sternum stroke method.

Oscillating Finger Method

1) Place the chicken on its side with a wing under its body. Hold it down gently with one hand. Note: You will want to make sure its head is flat on the table.

2) Using a finger from your other free hand, move your finger back and forth in front of the bird’s beak. The key is to go from the tip of its beak (without actually touching the beak) to a point that is about four inches from the beak.

3) Keeping the finger in a parallel line to the beak, repeat the motion until the bird is out.

Sternum Stroke Method

1) Place the bird gently on its back. Note: You may have to use an item to keep the bird from rolling to its side.

2) Hold the bird down with one hand.

3) With your free hand, lightly massage the bird’s sternum with your thumb and index finger slightly spread out.

4) Repeat until the bird is out.

See more about keeping and caring for chickens in our Raising Chickens 101 series!

Chickens

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the digital home of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She leads digital editorial strategy and publishing across a wide range of Almanac sub...

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Comments

<span>Sara Baker</span> Fri, 06/16/2023 - 01:45
When I was a kid, we would catch our chickens.. put there heads under there wing gently and hold the chicken while we spun it around in circles in our hands about 5-10 times and then set it down on the ground... Come back 15 mins later, rewind Mr. Chicken and off we would go playing...