dOMESTIC cHICKEN
Gallus domesticus
Domestic chickens are descendants of the Red Junglefowl and potentially the Grey Junglefowl and were domesticated about seven thousand years ago. There are more chickens than any other bird on earth and can be found living anywhere humans live (there are about three chickens on the planet for every person). There are hundreds of different chicken breeds worldwide. Male chickens are called roosters, while female chickens are called hens, and due to domestication, hens no longer need a male to lay eggs. The average hen can lay upwards of 280 eggs every year or an egg about every other day. Chickens are social animals and will live in groups called flocks consisting of one rooster and multiple hens.
Click HERE for a Chicken Activity Sheet!
Our Current Residents
Nugget, Female – Hatched on April 20, 2019
Nugget is our female (otherwise called a hen) Silver Laced Bantam who was donated to ZooMontana. She has a mostly black and white speckled pattern all over her body and is the smallest chicken in the barn.
Dixie, Female- Hatched on April 20, 2019
Dixie is our female (otherwise called a hen) Golden Laced Wyandotte who was donated to ZooMontana. Her head is mostly a golden orange color that goes down to the front of her body. Her body is mostly black feathers, with orange feathers coming through, in other words, she is mostly speckled.
Henrietta, Female- Hatch date Unknown
Henrietta is our female (otherwise called a hen) who came to ZooMontana as a donation. She is mostly golden brown with some darker black feathers on her wings and tail. She enjoys hanging out and following around Nugget.
Colonel Sanders, Male – Hatched in June 2020 (estimated and celebrated)
Colonel Sanders is the only male (or rooster) in the barn and is a California White and brown Legbar. He is mostly all white with some brown or darker colors on his wings and may appear a bit smaller than the other chickens. He was donated in 2020.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Galliformes
- Family: Phasianidae
- Genus: Gallus
- Species: Gallus domesticus
Animal Facts
Omnivore: mainly eats seeds, grains, lizards, insects, and young mammals
Population Status: currently listed as Unlisted due to their domestication.
Habitat: can be found living anywhere humans live
Activity: diurnal- mostly active during the day
