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| Chickens All About Birds |
EnchantedLearning.com Chickens |
Animal Printouts Label Me! Printouts |
Chickens are domestic (farm) birds. The adult female chicken is called a hen, the adult male is called a rooster, and the young are called chicks. There are many different breeds of chicken that are different sizes and colors. Bantams are miniature chicken breeds. A group of chickens is called a flock. The scientific name of the chicken is Gallus domesticus (genus and species).
Anatomy: The rooster is larger and more brightly colored than the hen; he also has a larger comb. Roosters make a very loud crowing sound and can be quite aggressive. Chicken eggs range in color from white to pale brown and other pale colors.
Diet: Chickens have a varied diet. They eat insects, worms, fruit, seeds, acorns, grains, slugs, snails, and many other foods. They have a well-developed gizzard (a part of the stomach that contains tiny stones) that grinds up their food.
Predators: Many animals prey upon chickens. Predators include skunks, owls, raccoons, hawks, opossums, bobcats, and snakes.
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