Scientific Name: Gallus domesticus

Family: Phasianidae
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Genus: Gallus

Jeffrey O. Gruta Chicken

REPORTER
 FORAGE
Chickens that are foraging on pasture aren’t just eating grasses. It
may look like that’s what they’re doing, but grasses only count for a
small part of their foraging diet. Chickens will eat insects,
vegetation, seeds and berries (if available) while they are foraging.
In fact, you can expect about half of a chicken’s foraging diet to
consist of insects!
When chickens are on forage or pasture, they’re going to consume
both the grasses and the insects that are attracted to the grasses.
Remember when I said that chickens crave the amino acid
methionine? The only source of methionine is in animal proteins.
 Age Of Maturity
Generally speaking, chickens are said to
be adults when they reach the point of
sexual maturity and begin laying eggs.
This typically occurs when the chickens
are between 16 and 24 weeks of age,
depending on breed, but even some
individuals within a breed will develop
more quickly or slowly than others.
 Gestation Period

Fertile chicken eggs hatch at the end of the incubation

period, about 21 days. Development of the chick starts
only when incubation begins, so all chicks hatch within
a day or two of each other, despite perhaps being laid
over a period of two weeks or so.
 Natural Habitat
domestic chickens (Gallus gallus
domesticus) utilize farms and backyards
as their natural habitat. However, the
species from which they likely originated,
range throughout various habitats --
especially areas of secondary growth --
of south Asia. To ensure your domestic
pets remain healthy, incorporate the
principles of their historic habitats into
their home.
 Diet
Chickens are omnivores and will eat (or try to eat) just about anything
they can get their beaks on. When ranging in the yards, chickens will
find a cornucopia of protein- and vitamin-rich food on their own,
including insects and grubs, vegetation and seeds. Fairly
indiscriminate, they may even sample such yard fare as skinks, toads
or small snakes before determining it is not to their taste. During
warmer months, a substantial portion of a chicken’s diet may come
from foraging, although free-ranging is not required for a backyard
brood to enjoy a healthy, balanced diet.
THANK YOU