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A Beginners Guide to North American Chickens


Chickens are different from most birds in they have a comb and two
wattles. The comb is the red appendage on the top of the head, and the
wattles are the two appendages under the chin.

Every breed of domestic chicken can be traced to the red jungle fowl.

The comb is the basis of the Latin name or classification of chickens. In
Latin, gallus means comb, and the domestic chicken is Gallus domesticus.
The red jungle fowl is Gallus bankiva.


Domestic chickens have essentially lost the ability to fly. Heavy breeds
used for meat production cannot do more than flap their wings and jump
to a little higher level or move more rapidly along the ground. The
lighter-bodied birds can fly short distances, and some can fly over
relatively high fences.


The rooster is larger and more brightly colored than the hen; he also
has a larger comb. Roosters make a very loud crowing sound and
can be quite aggressive.


Chicken eggs range in color from white to pale brown and other pale colors

Chickens feed on small seeds, herbs and leaves, grubs, insects and
even small mammals like mice, if they can get them.

Chickens will try to lay in nests that already contain eggs, and have been
known to move eggs from neighboring nests into their own. Some farmers
use fake eggs made from plastic or stone to encourage hens to lay in
a particular location.


Chickens have also become famous for the why did the
chicken cross the road jokes.


The most famous chicken is Foghorn Leghorn


Poultry Farm Terms

Broiler or Fryer is a young bird, male or female
Capon is a castrated male
Chicks are baby chickens
Fowl commonly means a full grown female bird in poultry markets
Hen is a female chicken more than one year old
Pullet is a female chicken less than one year old
Rooster or Cock is a male chicken

Picture Rooster




Fowl belong to the order Galliformes.
The common chicken belongs to the family Phasianidae and is classified as Gallus gallus

Types of Domestic Chickens Include:


Buckeye
Cornish
Chantecler
Delaware
Dominique
Holland
Java
Jersey Giant
Lamona
New Hampshire
Plymouth Rock
Rhode Island Red
White Leghorn
Wyandotte


See Also:

Index of North American Birds

Turkeys

Cock Fighting


Index of All Bird Care & Birdie Fun Stuff

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