
dOMESTIC cHICKEN
Gallus domesticus
Amazingly, there are nearly 25 billion chickens worldwide, making them the most populous bird. There are roughly 500 recognized species worldwide, all with varying feathers and body size.
Males, called roosters, have a distinct comb and wattle of red flesh on the face. The wattle is often used to bring attention to the male as he dances for a hen. Roosters will also have spurs on the rear of their legs that are used as weapons. Some hens are able to lay 300 eggs per year.
Chickens are known to have a language, with each cluck and chirp having a different meaning. There are at least 30 known sounds that have independent meanings. Chickens are omnivores, eating anything from grain, to bugs, to mice.
Click HERE for a Chicken Activity Sheet!
Our Current Residents
Vixen - Female New Hampshire Red - Hatched 2017
Dixie - Female Golden Laced Wyandote - Hatched 2019
Nugget - Female Silver Laced Bantam - Hatched 2019
Colonel - Male - Hatched 2020
All of ZooMontana's chickens were brought to the Zoo as pet surrenders.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Galliformes
- Family: Phasianidae
- Genus: Gallus
- Species: Gallus domesticus
Animal Facts
- Omnivore
- Common
- Diurnal