The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a domesticated
fowl of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae. Because they are kept
for food, the domesticated chicken is the most populous bird in the world with
numbers into the many billions. Evidence suggests that domestication took place
originally in Vietnam
10,000 years ago.
Male chickens are referred to as cocks or roosters and
female chickens are called hens or pullets. Natural omnivores, chickens eat
seeds, insects, small rodents and lizards. A single hen can lay 300 eggs
annually. The average lifespan of a chicken is anywhere from five to 11 years.
Chickens in captivity bred for meat have an average lifespan of 3 ½ months.
The most visible difference between a male and female
chicken is the decorative plumage and the red comb on their heads. The male is
more aesthetically appealing than the female. Chickens cannot fly very far if
at all. Captive birds don't fly. Wild chickens fly very short distances in the
case of self defense or surveying their locale.
An average of 50 billion chickens are bred annually for food
across the globe.