The "Chicken Dance" song was composed by Werner Thomas in the 1970s in Davos, Switzerland. On a recorded release of the music the authors were listed as "Thomas/Rendall/Hose". It was originally called Der Ententanz (The Duck Dance). It is known by several other names, including "Vogeltanz" (Bird Dance), "Chicken Dance" and "Dance Little Bird".

It has become popular in the USA as a German heritage song, and has been likewise adopted by people worldwide of many cultures since its creation. It is often danced at weddings and at Oktoberfests. The University of Wisconsin Marching Band in Milwaukee, Wisconsin performs it at all of its games and during its post-game performances.

The "Chicken Dance" requires a group of people, and it goes as follows:

- Begin in a large circle with everybody facing in towards the center of the ring.
- At the start of the music, shape a chicken beak with your hands. Open and close it four times, during the first four beats of the music.
- Make chicken wings with your arms. Flap your wings four times, during the next four beats of the music.
- Make a chicken's tail feathers with your arms and hands. Wiggle downwards during the next four beats of the music.
- Clap four times during the next four beats of the music.
- Repeat this process four times.
- After the fourth time you grab your neighbors' hands and move round in a circle.
- Switch directions when the bandleader says so.
- The dance repeats, progressively getting faster and faster, until the music stops.

See Novelty/Fad dance for a list of novelty and fad dances.