Chicken
Gallus gallus domesticus
- Where
- Worldwide
- Habitat
- Farms, backyards, and coops
- Diet
- Omnivore — grains, greens, insects
- Size
- Small to medium bird
- Lifespan
- Often 5–10 years
Fun Facts
- Chickens can recognize over 100 different faces.
- They have a social “pecking order” in the flock.
- Hens lay eggs without a rooster — but eggs won’t hatch without fertilization.
Learn More
Chickens were domesticated from wild red junglefowl in Asia thousands of years ago.
They dust-bathe to keep feathers clean and take dust baths seriously as a group activity.
Backyard keepers must protect birds from predators and follow local rules about flock size.