I used to have chickens, ducks and geese and there was one hen in particular who thought of herself as a lap bird. She would come running up to me at full speed and plunk herself, dirty feet and all, into my lap if I sat down on a nearby log. She would let me hug and pet her and would peck gently at my hands as if kissing and rest the side of her head against my hand. When I was holding her all of the other hens would gather around, hoping to get some attention too. Before I knew it, I would be surrounded by chickens, the rooster included. He would let me pet him just a little bit, probably to see what the fuss was all about, and then he'd leave us girls be. Most of the other hens were trying to steal the attention away from that one but she was determined to be my pet and would just snuggle harder when the other chickens gathered around. It was pretty funny and cute, although I'd get all muddy and messy from her dirty feet. I didn't sit out there near the chickens very often but that girl was always the first one to the fence when I came near to give them a treat of some kind. We would usually give them table scraps to pick over and that was the big highlight of their day.
