• Chickens

Chickens can best be described as farm birds or poultry – meaning that they are usually reared in farms for their meat and eggs. Chickens are domestic and can live for as long as 5-10 years. The male chicken is bigger than the female in size and also has more colourful feathers. During mating, the males usually show-off their colourful feathers, in a bid to attract females.

Both male and female chicken have combs on their heads and two wattles under their neck. However, the male’s comb is way bigger than that of the female. A male chicken is called a rooster, the females are called hens and the young ones are known as chicks. Hens are usually ready to lay eggs when they’re around six months old, and when they eventually do, they incubate the eggs till their young ones hatch. This usually takes about 21 days. After the chicks are hatched, the hen takes care of them till they’re able to fend for themselves.

What Sound Does A Chicken Make?

Roosters are known to make early morning calls. The sound which goes “cock-a-doodle-doo”, is called a crow. Roosters crow every morning on the farm. Hens make a “cluck-cluck” sound while chicks make a “chick-chick” sound.

What Does A Chicken Eat?

Chickens are omnivores – meaning that they eat both plants and animals. They eat different kinds of things, including worms, insects, seeds, grains, snails, slugs, fruits, vegetables and many other foods. An organ in their stomach, known as the gizzard, helps them to grind up all the solid food they consume regularly.

Which Animals Are Predators To The Chicken?

Chickens are usually hunted by hawks, bobcats, snakes, racoons, foxes, etc. These wild animals either prey on the chickens or consume their eggs.

What Are The Different Kinds Of Chicken Breeds?

There are over 200 varieties of chicken worldwide and they are classified into 53 breeds, based on their area of origin – Asiatic, Continental, American, English, Mediterranean.

Here are some popular types of chicken breed that are reared for meat and egg:

• Bantams: Bantams are known for their small size. Their eggs are also tiny.
• Plymouth Rock: This kind of Chicken is mostly found in the United States.
• Marans: Marans are usually reared for their eggs. They perform well in egg production.
• Leghorns: This is the most popular chicken breed in the world. They are usually white in colour and are reared for their meat. Leghorns can grow really large if fed they are fed well, and this makes them a good option for the production meat.

Where Do Chickens Live?

Just like we humans, chickens need houses too. They live in a place called a pen or a chicken coop. The pen is constructed in such a way that it keeps the chickens warm during the winter and keeps them cool during summer. When chickens are inside the pen, they are also protected from rainfall and extreme sunshine. Chicken pens are built to be spacious, so that the birds can be able to move around freely. Restricting their movement could make them fall sick.