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OPEN TODAY: 10AM-4:30PM Last Admission @ 3:30

Domestic Chickens

Gallus gallus domesticus

Appearance

Chickens come in a wide variety of colors from black to white, red to green, and everything in between. Males tend to have bigger combs (fleshy growth found on the forehead) and longer tail feathers although with cross-breeding, sometimes females will have those features as well.

Range

Domestic chickens are found throughout the world.

Diet

In the wild, chickens eat seeds, insects, small reptiles, and sometimes small mice. Here at the Nature Center, we give them seeds, fruits, and vegetables.

Extra Details

History:

The earliest evidence of domesticated chickens comes from the Indus River civilization from around 3300 BCE. Chickens, depending on the breed, are used mainly for their meat and eggs. They were originally domesticated from the red jungle- fowl originally found in Southeast Asia.

Who You’ll Meet

Our Flock

Date of Birth: Hatched Spring 2024 What Makes Them Unique? We have 5 breeds of chicken here at the WNC Nature Center – Brown Leghorn, Sicilian Buttercup, Egyptian Fayoumis, Blue Andalusian, and Silver Spangled Hamburg.