Using chicken to train the trainers

In this video, you’ll get a quick overview of one of the most powerful learning experiences in the world of training: the original Bob and Marian Bailey chicken workshop.

Since these workshops were introduced, I’ve seen many versions pop up across different countries. Some stayed true to the purpose, but many missed the point entirely. The term “chicken training workshop” is often misunderstood, it’s not about training chickens. It’s about training trainers.

These workshops are designed to teach the core principles of classical and operant conditioning through intensive classroom lectures combined with hands-on sessions using live animals. Chickens are used not because they’re the goal, but because they’re ideal teaching animals. They observe human behavior with precision, respond clearly to trainer mistakes, and learn quickly, making them the perfect mirrors for our skills (or lack of them).

It’s not about teaching a chicken to follow a food cup. It’s about putting theory into practice, bringing what’s in your head into your hands. Translating knowledge into timing, precision, and clarity.

I’m grateful to be one of the few people in the world who completed the full series of five intensive workshops directly under the guidance of Bob and Marian Bailey, along with many private lessons that went even deeper into the science and art of training.

This was not just a workshop. It was a masterclass in behavior, learning, and communication.

Enjoy this glimpse into a truly unique and eye-opening experience.