Bird Scratching: 10 Things We Want to Share About Chickens
- Southeast Asia’s native Red Junglefowl are the main ancestors of today’s domestic chickens, however, interbreeding with three other Asian junglefowl species occurred later.
- Humans have been breeding, and transporting, chickens around the world since about 6,000 B.C.
- Researchers believe people initially domesticated chickens for cockfighting, a controversial bloodsport involving religion, culture, ethics, and laws.
- Polynesian settlers introduced chickens to Hawaiʻi around AD 1200.
- In 1939, Hawaiʻi officials released 857 Red Junglefowl to Kauaʻi to maintain a hunting population.
- The feral chickens so common on Kauaʻi today are hybrids of Red Junglefowl and domestic chickens.
- All domestic chickens are the same species (Gallus gallus domesticus), but like dogs, people breed hundreds of variations for meat, eggs, hobbies, and pets.
- Fine feathers cover and protect chickens’ ears, but a fine flap of skin below each ear, called the earlobe, is visible. In general, commercial egg-laying chickens with red earlobes lay brown eggs. Those with white earlobes lay white eggs. All egg colors have the same nutritional value.
- Healthy backyard chickens live about 10 years. The oldest chicken lived for 22 years.
- Chickens are social birds that can bond with humans, recognize their keepers, and become affectionate pets.