h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Another way (basically the same as the chalk line) to hypnotise a chicken is:

Lie your little chick on the floor with it's beak pressed in the ground. Run your finger from the back of it's head down it's beak and out in front of it 'drawing' a line about half a meter long.

it's just the same as the chalk method but useful for when they're aren't any tarmac surfaces to write on or indeed any chalk.

I've tried it and believe me it works a treat for a good half hour or so.

I think it works because it leaves the chicken staring off into infinity in a daze.