Fun Chicken Facts For Kids

Most of you are acquainted with the chicken. However, there are many interesting facts about chickens that remain to be known.

The scientific term for the domesticated chicken remains a source of contention in the science realm. Some people claim that the chicken is a domesticated variant of the feral red wildfowl, Gallus gallus.

Others categorize the bird as a distinct species of that very same fowl, naming it Gallus gallus domesticus in biological terms. Others, like the US Department of Agriculture, recognize Gallus domesticus to be the scientific name for the domestic chicken. Every chicken is a member of the same phylum, order, class, family, and genus.

The domestic fowl, or just fowl, was the name assigned to the entire genus at first. Earlier, a small domesticated fowl was addressed as a 'chicken'.

The words 'hen' and 'chicken', which emerged during this time period, are still commonly used today. Keep reading these facts about chickens to get an insight into slim chickens, backyard chickens, and other types of chickens.

For more similar content, check out birds of paradise and barn owls.
 

Chicken Interesting Facts

What type of animal are Chickens?

The chicken is a type of bird.

What class of animal do Chickens belong to?

Chickens belong to the class of Aves.

How many Chickens are there in the world?

Studies show that at any given point in time there exist approximately 23 billion chickens all across the world. In 2018, the globe's chicken population was projected to be about 23.7 billion.

This is a substantial improvement from 2011 when the number was estimated to be about 19 billion chickens. About 50 billion chickens are raised per year for their meat and eggs.

Where do Chickens live?

Chickens usually inhabit grasslands, farmlands, and woodlands. They are usually found all across the globe and are considered a major source of meat in many countries.

What is Chickens' habitat?

The majority of chickens are now kept in captivity. An industrial farming environment is frequently their habitat.

They have two main environments in the wild, however, with wide canopies and adjoining shrubs serving as feeding grounds, while roosting areas are commonly located in low tree limbs and are utilized at night. Chickens in captivity need the same dual-habitat framework. Chickens that have been bred and produced on farmland are usually kept in a fenced field.

Who do Chickens live with?

Chickens are highly social creatures who live in flocks of approximately 30 individuals. A lone chicken would not be able to live on its own. Chickens, like most social birds, prefer to feed, scavenge, build nests, and dust-bathe collectively. Unlike many other species, chickens will lay their eggs in group nests and grow their chicks together.

How long do Chickens live?

Chickens have an average lifespan of 5-10 years.

How do they reproduce?

The chicken was regarded in Ancient Egypt as 'the creature that gave life daily,' given the reality that hens would produce up to 300 eggs annually.

A rooster can conduct a circular motion when trying to woo a female (generally in the spring or summer) wherein he dances in a ring while holding a raised wing aimed in her way.

After this the males and females breed.

For ovulation and egg production, it takes about 23-26 hours for mother hens. Ovulation will happen as soon as an hour since the females lay the last chicken eggs, and that is why mother hens can lay brown eggs or lay white eggs which are huge in numbers.

A cluster of 12 eggs is laid by hens, and all the eggs are incubated after the entire clutch is laid. Young chicks hatching from fertilized chicken embryos take about 21 days to mature.

Within four to five weeks, baby chicks are completely feathered and coated down in feathers. Males or roosters may generate seminal fluid and females will generate viable eggs at about six months of maturity.

What is their conservation status?

Chickens are still not threatened in any manner, and they can be seen all over the world. The majority of chickens are born on industrial farms and die there, but others are bred with free-range farming practices.

Chickens are owned as pets by a limited proportion of the world. Due to this plentiful availability of chickens, they fall under the category of Least Concern when it comes to their conservation status.

Fun Chicken Facts

What do Chickens look like?

The chicken has a rounded look and is squat. Both females and males have leathery combs on the tops of their heads and elongated wattles under their beaks. Caruncles refer to these and many other leathery protuberances as a group.

Hackles, which are gleaming, pointed feathers, surround the front. Saddles, which are longer, gleaming feathers, adorn the back. The tails of these birds are normally long and arched.

How cute are they?

Although chickens are less cute than other common birds, their walk, pecking order, and curiosity can make them appear quite cute.

How do they communicate?

Each species has its own way of interacting with one another. Chickens communicate mainly through their vocalizations. Roosters and hens prefer to be noticed, so they use a range of noises to express their emotions, patterns, and actions.

How big are Chickens?

Chickens can measure about 11.8-17.7 in (30-45 cm) in length. It is almost the same size as a duck.

How fast can Chickens fly?

Chickens have a reputation of being quite bad at flying. Though they can fly, it is not for long stretches. However, chickens can run quite fast at a speed of 9 mph (14 kph).

How much do Chickens weigh?

Chickens weigh approximately 5.7 lb (2.6 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, adult males are regarded as cocks, while in the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, they are recognized as roosters. Cockerels are males that are still immature. On the other hand, pullets refer to immature females, while hens refer to adult females. Capons are chickens that are raised for their meat.

What would you call a baby Chicken?

A baby or a group of young chickens are called chicks or peeps.

What do they eat?

Chickens are voracious hunters in the wild and they are omnivores, so they eat both plants and animals. They hunt for food by scraping the ground with their beaks, looking for insects, nuts, fruits, and plants.

Larger species, such as small reptiles, lizards, and rats, are also eaten by these birds as food. Chickens in captivity are mainly provided chicken food made up of original agriculture food, and agri-food byproducts. This way people raise healthy poultry on the farm by feeding them healthy produce.

Are they dangerous?

Chickens are generally harmless, but they can be dangerous if provoked. They can peck you with their beaks in such cases. Another harm that these birds may incur is skin infections or other diseases spread by the germs that they carry.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, chickens can be a worthy addition to your pet. Chickens, like all healthy animals, have powerful and distinct personalities.

Some are pleasant, others are shy, and still, others are irritable. You get to see their peculiar quirks as they thrive in your backyard, farm, or in the coop. Since chickens are social animals, having more than a single backyard chicken is desirable.

Did you know...

Chickens do have feelings, and they also have what we refer to as 'complex feelings'. Chickens have a common temperament as human beings and other ethologically diverse animals, and also diverse pleasant and unpleasant emotions. They show signs of social contagion as well as empathy.

Chickens have an excellent memory and facial recognition abilities. They are capable of identifying and distinguishing over 100 distinct faces, creatures, and humans.

Do chickens get attached to their owners?

Yes, chickens can get attached to their owners. This happens when a human feeds them, provides them with shelter, and cares for them.

What is interesting about chickens?

In Western literature, the chicken is seen as a sign of parenting and divine love. Hens also have a particular significance in the sense that hens are considered to be self-sacrificing, caring, nurturing, and calming, and she represents perfect maternal affection and Christian love.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including the secretary bird, or the blue and yellow macaw.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our 2 chickens coloring pages.