Chicken
| Gallus gallus domesticus | |
|---|---|
| |
| A rooster or cock (left) and hen (right) | |
Domesticated
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Gallus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | G. g. domesticus
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Gallus gallus domesticus | |
Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a term which refers to a species of poultry. It is raised in many places for its meat and eggs.[1] They are usually kept by humans as livestock. Some breeds of chickens can fly for a short distance. Some sleep in trees (if there are trees around).
A male chicken is called a rooster. A female chicken is called a hen; a young chicken is called a chick. Like other female birds, hens lay eggs. The eggs hatch into chicks.
When raising chickens, a farmer needs a chicken coop (like a little house) for the chickens to roost (sleep) in. They also need a run or yard where they can exercise, take dust baths, eat and drink. The chickens also need to be protected from predators such as foxes. Fences are often used for this. [2]
Chickens can also be farmed intensively. This lets farms make a lot of chicken meat and eggs.
Eggs
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Chickens are well known for their eggs. Many people eat them for their breakfast.[3] The eggs can be prepared in many different ways, such as freezing them.[4]
Meat
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Because of their low cost, chicken meat (also called "chicken") is one of the most used kinds of meat in the world. Americans eat 8 billion chickens every year.[5] Some popular dishes with chicken are: Buffalo wings, butter chicken, chicken rice, chicken balls, chicken pot pie, chicken soup, fried chicken (see picture), roasted chicken and tandoori chicken.[source?]
Cuts
[change | change source]There are different cuts of chicken. Chicken meat can also be bought whole. The leanest part is known as the breast. Sliced pieces of the breast are known as the tender(loin). There are also wings, thighs, and legs (also known as drumsticks).[6]
Chicken and chickenpox
[change | change source]Chickenpox has nothing to do with chickens. When chickenpox was first described, people thought that the pox spots looked like chickpeas placed upon the skin. The Latin word for chickpeas is grana. That is the original word that chickenpox got its name from.[7]
Gaming
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In some parts of the world people breed chickens to fight. They bet money on which of two birds will win. In many places this is illegal.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "chicken (bird) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". britannica.com. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ↑ How to Raise Chickens Archived 2015-03-02 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ↑ Bos, Sascha (6 April 2017). "Why Do We Eat Eggs for Breakfast, Anyway?". Bon Appétit. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ↑ ""How Do You Want Your Eggs?" Eleven Ways To Cook An Egg". Breakfast With Nick. 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ↑ "Chicken Facts by The Easy Chicken for beginners". shilala.homestead.com. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ↑ "Chicken Anatomy - Koch Foods". 2 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ↑ "Why is it called chicken pox?". parenting.ivillage.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
Other websites
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Data related to Chicken at Wikispecies
Media related to Chicken at Wikimedia Commons
Raising Chickens at Wikibooks