Something to Crow About

Bird Scratching: 10 Things We Want to Share About Chickens

  1. 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.
  2. Humans have been breeding, and transporting, chickens around the world since about 6,000 B.C.
  3. Researchers believe people initially domesticated chickens for cockfighting, a controversial bloodsport involving religion, culture, ethics, and laws.
  4. Polynesian settlers introduced chickens to Hawaiʻi around AD 1200.
  5. In 1939, Hawaiʻi officials released 857 Red Junglefowl to Kauaʻi to maintain a hunting population.
  6. The feral chickens so common on Kauaʻi today are hybrids of Red Junglefowl and domestic chickens.
  7. All domestic chickens are the same species (Gallus gallus domesticus), but like dogs, people breed hundreds of variations for meat, eggs, hobbies, and pets.
  1. 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.
  2. Healthy backyard chickens live about 10 years. The oldest chicken lived for 22 years.
  3. Chickens are social birds that can bond with humans, recognize their keepers, and become affectionate pets.