Scientific Name | - | Gallus Gallus |
Type | - | Bird |
Diet | - | Omnivore |
Size | - | 30cm - 45cm (11.8in - 17.7in) |
Weight | - | 1kg - 3kg (2.2lbs - 6.6lbs) |
Top Speed | - | 10km/h (6mph) |
Life Span | - | 2 - 4 years |
Lifestyle | - | Flock |
Conservation Status | - | Threatened |
Colour | - | Red, Black, Brown, White, Yellow, Orange. |
Skin Type | - | Feathers |
Favourite Food | - | Seeds |
Habitat | - | Open woodland and sheltered grassland |
Average Clutch Size | - | 2 |
Main Prey | - | Seeds, Fruit, Insects, Berries |
Predators | - | Human, Fox, Raccoon |
Distinctive Features | - | Sharp, pointed beak and clucking sounds |
Chickens were one of the first animals domesticated by man. The main attraction for many potential owners is the prospect of fresh eggs. Chickens are energetic, inquisitive, and friendly animals who are a joy to watch, but the decision to keep them should not be made lightly.
The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl.Fowl had been known in Egypt since the mid-15th century BC.
location of originRecent genetic studies have pointed to multiple maternal origins in Southeast, East, and South Asia, but with the clade found in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa originating in the Indian subcontinent.
CensusAs one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird.
Ameraucana |
Ancona |
Andalusian |
Antwerp Belgian Bantam |
Appenzeller Spitzhauben |
Araucana |
Aseel |
Australorp |
Barnevelder |
Belgian Bearded d'Uccle Bantam |
Booted Bantam |
Brahma |
Buckeye |
Campine |
Catalana |
Chantecler |
Cochin |
Cornish |
Crevecoeur |
Cubalaya |
Delaware |
Dominique |
Dorking |
Easter Eggers |
Faverolles |
Fayoumi |
Hamburg |
Holland |
Houdan |
Japanese Bantam |
Java |
Jersey Giant |
La Fleche |
Lakenvelder |
Langshan |
Legbar |
Leghorn (Non-White) |
Leghorn (White) |
Malay |
Marans |
Minorca |
Modern Game |
Naked Neck (Turken) |
New Hampshire Red |
Old English Game |
Orpington |
Penedesenca |
Phoenix |
Plymouth Rock |
Polish |
Redcap |
Rhode Island |
Rosecomb Bantam |
Russian Orloff |
Sebright Bantam |
Sicilian Buttercup |
Silkie Bantam |
Star |
Sultan |
Sumatra |
Sussex |
Welsummer |
White Faced Black Spanish |
Wyandotte |
Yokohama |
They will usually live between four to seven years. There are many different varieties of chicken, but if you are keeping them for their eggs, then the larger breeds or hybrids are probably best suited to you. Hybrids will each lay one egg per day, although this will slow during winter and when they get older.
Flooring - Covered with dry material (e.g. wood shavings or straw), to allow foraging and dustbathing (particularly important when it’s wet outside). This must be topped-up or replaced when needed.
Space - Enough for chickens to exercise, stretch their wings and carry out normal behaviors. As a guide, roughly 12 square metres should be enough for 30 birds. Although this depends on the size and numbers of chickens and layout of facilities.
Perches
Nest boxes
Fencing
They will quickly learn that their owner brings them food and will follow you around as if you were leader of their flock.When they are tame, be careful when eating outside as they will quite happily jump onto tables and steal tasty things out of your hands.
Most hybrids are similar in size and colour, so if you want to be able to identify them easily and give them names, you can differentiate them using coloured leg rings.
FeedingIf you want chicks, you’ll need a rooster. As a rule of thumb, 10 to 12 hens per rooster is a good ratio. While you could build an incubator and supervise the development of the eggs, it’s easiest to let the hens take care of hatching.
A hen that is getting ready to nest becomes “broody.” This means that she wants to hatch her eggs. She’ll sit “tight” on the nest and resist having her eggs collected, whereas a nonbroody hen will let you reach under her to collect eggs. A broody hen may even peck or screech at anyone coming near. There are ways to discourage broodiness, but why would you? The hen does the work of hatching and raising, and you get free chicks!
Farm chickens can live 4 to 7 years and lay eggs for most of that time. Every year they go “off-lay” (stop laying eggs) for several months. This happens over the winter, when there’s too little daylight to trigger egg-laying. They’ll begin again in the spring.
As with all pets, if you are concerned about any aspect of their health you should consult an appropriate vet.
In the peak of fitness, chickens should be bright eyed and alert. They will have clean legs, feet and bottoms, as well as healthy wattles. Chickens, like all birds, are very good at hiding illness so owners should watch them carefully in order to recognise any changes in their normal behaviour.
Using mite and louse powders will help you avoid the most common problems. Natural alternatives are also available that will help with parasite control and maintain chicken vitality.
Signs of poor health include: