Chickens: From Jungle Fowl to Backyard Birds

Evolution of Chickens.

Chickens are one of the most common and popular domesticated animals in the world. They have been raised for eggs, meat, feathers, and other products for thousands of years. But how did they become domesticated? And how did they spread across the globe? Here is a brief history of chickens and their evolution.

The Origins of Chickens

Chickens belong to the genus Gallus, which includes four species of wild birds that are collectively known as Jungle Fowl. The red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) is the ancestor of most domesticated chickens today. It is native to Southeast Asia and still runs wild in most of the region.

The red jungle fowl is a small and colorful bird, with a red comb, wattles, and earlobes, a greenish-black tail, and brownish-red feathers. It is omnivorous, feeding on seeds, fruits, insects, worms, and small vertebrates. It is also social, living in flocks that consist of a dominant male and several females and young.

The red jungle fowl has a long history of interaction with humans. It was hunted for food and sport by many ancient civilizations, such as the Indus Valley, China, India, and Southeast Asia. It was also revered as a symbol of courage, fertility, and fortune by some cultures. For example, the Hindu god Murugan was associated with the red jungle fowl.

The Domestication of Chickens

Chickens were separately domesticated in different regions of the world from local populations of wild jungle fowl. The earliest evidence of chicken domestication dates back to about 8,000 years ago in the Near East¹, where chickens were raised for eggs and meat. Later, chicken domestication occurred in China from the yellow jungle fowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus), a subspecies of the red jungle fowl². Chinese chickens were used for eggs, meat, feathers, and divination.

The exact process and reasons for chicken domestication are not fully understood, but it is likely that humans captured young wild jungle fowl and raised them in captivity for their products. The domesticated chickens gradually diverged from their wild ancestors in appearance and behavior. They became larger, tamer, more productive, and more varied in color and shape. They also developed a closer bond with humans and became more dependent on them for food and shelter.

The domesticated chickens were selectively bred for different traits and purposes by different cultures. For example, some chickens were bred for high egg production (such as the Leghorn), some for high meat production (such as the Cornish), some for ornamental features (such as the Silkie), some for fighting abilities (such as the Aseel), and some for cold tolerance (such as the Chantecler).

The Spread of Chickens

Chickens were one of the first animals to be transported by humans across long distances. They were brought by sea or land to various regions and continents where they adapted to different climates and environments.

Some of the earliest chicken migrations include:

• Chickens were brought to Europe by Phoenician traders from the Near East about 3,000 years ago³. They were used for eggs, meat, feathers, manure, and sacrifice. They interbred with local populations of wild jungle fowl until they became extinct in Europe.
• Chickens were brought to Africa by ancient Egyptians from the Near East about 2,500 years ago⁴. They were used for eggs, meat, feathers, manure, sacrifice, and divination. They interbred with local populations of wild guinea fowl (Numida Meleagris) and formed hybrid populations that are still present today.
• Chickens were brought to Asia by ancient Indo-Europeans from Central Asia about 2,000 years ago. They were used for eggs, meat, feathers, manure, sacrifice, and divination. They interbred with local populations of wild jungle fowl such as green jungle fowl (Gallus varius) and grey jungle fowl (Gallus sonneratii) and formed hybrid populations that are still present today.

Chickens have also been introduced to many islands around the world by humans for various reasons. Some examples include:

• Chickens were introduced to Australia by European settlers in the late 18th century. They were used for eggs, meat, feathers, manure, and hunting. Some chickens escaped or were released into the wild and became feral.
• Chickens were introduced to New Zealand by Polynesian voyagers in the early centuries AD. They were used for eggs, meat, feathers, manure, and sacrifice. Some chickens escaped or were released into the wild and became feral.
• Chickens were introduced to Hawaii by Polynesian voyagers in the early centuries AD. They were used for eggs, meat, feathers, manure, and sacrifice. Some chickens escaped or were released into the wild and became feral.

Chickens have become one of the most widespread and successful domesticated animals in the world. They have been raised for eggs, meat, feathers, and other products for thousands of years. They have also become part of the culture, religion, art, literature, and folklore of many peoples. They are not only a source of food, but also a source of joy and inspiration.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post about the history of chickens.

Thank you for reading!

Source: 

(1) Domestication History of Chickens (Gallus domesticus) - ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-domestication-history-of-chickens-170653.

(2) The Complete History Of Chickens: From Jungles To Backyards. https://www.chickensandmore.com/history-of-chickens/.

(3) Chicken - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken.

(4) A Brief History of Chickens: Where Do They Come From?. https://petkeen.com/chicken-history/.

Image Attribution: Fernando Losada Rodríguez, Gallus gallus domesticus.002 - Monfero, CC BY-SA 4.0

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