There are a surprising number of animal species that are ticklish.
From apes to owls to even camels, these animals experience the same feeling when being ticked as humans do.
“I was amazed about the way apes responded to being tickled – the apes seem to behave in the same way humans and children behave when they are being tickled,” Dr. Maria Davila-Ross of the University of Portsmouth wrote.
In addition to the apes, the aforementioned animals seemed to also emit “positive vocalizations” in response to being tickled.
Chickens weren’t on the BBC’s list but a woman named Lisa who lives on a Rockwall, Texas hobby farm says her chicken Francis laughs hysterically when being tickled.
Francis lives on a farm with all sorts of different animals.
Lisa was taken aback by Francis’ response to being touched and tickled and wanted to share Francis’ joy with others.
So, she decided to do a video demonstration.
“Frances is a very affectionate hen who happens to have a particularity great reaction to tickles. She is one of 40 pets on a Texas hobby farm where she lives with goats, pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, and a fish,” a caption from the video reads.
“Several animals on the farm are special needs and they are all rescues. She works in the commercial film business, but since COVID, has been home spending time on stupid pet tricks and making people laugh. The chicken is not being hurt and is not in pain. She’s responding to touch. Anthropomorphism at its best. She truly sounds like she’s laughing.”
This wasn’t confirmed, but it appears that Francis might be an exotic Ayam Ketawa chicken which, according to Greenfire Farm‘s website, is also known as a laughing chicken.
They describe Ayam Ketawa chickens as having “maniacal laughing vocalizations.”
Apparently, they are also revered in their native Indonesia. So, much so that they were only allowed to be owned by the royal family up until recently.
The video shows Lisa holding Francis and introducing her before she does her demonstration.
“This is Francis , and if Francis does what she usually does, this is going to be cute,” Lisa explains. “She’s a good girl. She’s an easter egger and this is going to be good. You ever see a chicken laugh?”
Francis starts squawking a bit and it’s adorable.
But it’s nothing compared to what she’s about to do.
“This is Francis, ready? Alright you ready?” Lisa says before placing the chicken down and tickling her under her wings.
By this point, Francis goes completely wild and starts “laughing” hysterically.
It’s actually more like a very loud cackle.
Lisa stop to give Francis a little break from her hysterics.
“She’s very ticklish,” Lisa explains.
Then she goes in for round two and Francis goes right back into her giggle fit while being tickled.
Just like a human, Francis scurries away after being tickled. It’s just too much stimulation for her.
“And that’s Francis laughing I hope you enjoyed that,” Lisa says.
A lot of people did — the video has been viewed thousands of times since it was first uploaded. It’s truly adorable to see this chicken happily laughing away.
Check out the funny moment where the chicken is tickled below!
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