Chickens, Chickens Everywhere!

Believe it or not, there are way too many different types of chickens to try and count. It’s hard to believe that they all descended from the same ancestor, the wild Red Jungle Fowl of India and Southeast Asia. And they still exist today! Farmers began taming these chickens thousands of years ago and later spread throughout the world. Eventually, hundreds of different breeds of chickens developed and are now seen at many farms and zoos.

Some chickens are cold climate chickens and some are warm climate chickens. One difference between the two is the way the coop is required to be built depending on the temperature needed.

Larger chickens are great for meat but don’t lay as many eggs. When they do lay eggs, though, they are usually brown. Smaller chickens aren’t as useful for meat but are great layers. Their eggs are white. Some chickens are all-purpose. They are good for meat as well as for eggs. They lay brown eggs. Its more usual to see these chickens at smaller farms

Most chickens today are produced by mating or crossing different breeds. They are called hybrid birds. This gives farmers many advantages such as more eggs or a larger amount of meat.

Some chickens are used for show. These are stranger and fancier chickens. Some lay an odd size or number of eggs while some have more fluff or interestingly colored feathers. These chickens are fun to have around and bring more excitement to the farm.

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Let’s Learn Where Chickens Live

Chickens are domestic birds. Dogs and cats are also domestic. You can usually find chickens on farms. They provide eggs and meat for the farmers.

On many farms, chickens can roam free during the day, and sleep peacefully inside the safety of a chicken coop at night. This keeps them away from foxes and other hunger predators. There are several different shapes and sizes of coops, each having different advantages. Some coops have runs. Runs are fenced in areas connected to the coop which allow chickens to roam in a certain amount of space given. All chicken coops protect chickens from the cold and wet weather outside and have nesting boxes for hens to lay their eggs.

Sometimes, farmers decide to let their chickens live outside. Chickens that are allowed to do this are called free-range. They get plenty of sun and fresh air during the day as well as shelter when they need it. These chickens are fed by farmers but also have the ability to search for food on their own.

Chickens are sometimes even kept in large chicken farms where thousands of chickens are crowded together in factory-like sheds. These chickens live in here their entire life and never get to feel the warmth of the sun or see the wonder of seasons. This is very unnatural.

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