Interesting Facts About Cocks and Hens

Roosters and chickens though the most widespread birds on our planet (more than 19 billion individuals), but few and infrequently are interested in their “biography”. They seem familiar to us and not as exotic as, for example, peacocks or other birds. In General, nothing remarkable. And for good reason! Offer to learn more about how they appeared in the history of mankind, and to draw attention to the interesting facts of their lives.

The history of the emergence of chickens and roosters

According to the generally accepted scientific version all known breeds of modern hens appeared as a result of domestication and the subsequent selection of wild shrubby hens. Scientists believe that the main motive for trying to tame them was the thirst for entertainment. Fighting cocks had been encouraged by representatives of the ancient tribes living on the territory of South-East Asia. “Combat” cock considerably raised the authority of his master in the eyes of the tribesmen.

There is a logical question: “Why people chickens and roosters were not interested in people from the point of view of obtaining meat and eggs?”. The answer is simple: wild chickens were characterized by low egg production (an average of 4 eggs) and modest weight (maximum 1 kg). So that the use of them found surest. By the way, still in Indonesia and the Philippines cock fighting popular, and birds are selected on criterion: be appropriate for battlefield or not.

In Indonesia and the Philippines, cockfighting is popular

To determine when, and most importantly, where the process of domestication of wild chickens, it is difficult. There are versions that it all began in China 6000 years BC and Other experts believe that this happened some 2,000 years BC in India. Third – that in Asia 3200 BC.

• In the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (Ancient Egypt 1350 BC) you can find images of chickens.
• In Ethiopian cultural monuments mention of chickens found since 900 BC.
• In Greece, the chickens are “infiltrated” in antiquity. Suffice it to recall the story of how Plato argued from their point of view about the origin of man and said, “Man is a biped without feathers”. In response to this statement, Diogenes caught the cock, plucked it and said: “Here’s a man on Plato!»
• Bred chickens and in Judea. A direct reference to this contains the gospel. When the Apostle Peter denied Christ three times the rooster crowed. “I tell thee, Peter, the cock will not crow today before you deny three times that thou knowest Me”.

In Europe the chickens came from Asia. By the time they showed their good side: in the process of domestication has been observed a high variability of individuals. Body weight increased, to lay eggs they become more frequent, and the eggs became more. It is here that people and began to breed chickens for meat and eggs, and also tried to experiment with them to increase egg production and other indicators. This happened in the Middle ages.

On the territory of Ancient Russia the chickens appeared at the settlements on the Black sea in the 4th century BC May have been imported from Greece on merchant ships. Since the 1st century to breed chickens have become more active. Farmers could not but appreciate the beautiful birds and the fact that they can be used for food. Chickens and roosters are prized for this quality.

Well, now a little interesting facts about chickens and roosters which you, probably, didn’t know.

1. Chickens and cocks have a high level of intelligence

Unfortunately, the crazy chickens underestimate, perhaps drawing Parallels with the size of the cranium. Thinking that the smaller the mass of the brain, the more stupid creature. And chickens are very intelligent birds. They are capable:

• to remember the faces of (more than one hundred),
• to determine the owner,
• to navigate in the time of day,
• to remember meal times,
• to know your house and your “friends”. If you take the chicken out of the coop for a couple of days, and then return back, the tribesmen will remember her and will take back.

Mind chickens underestimate

Scientists have proved that the set of reflexes and skills of a one-day chicken is similar to the same set (attention!) three-year-old child. So the expression “chicken brains” might not be quite right. And the famous saying of Confucius: “a woman mind is like a chicken, and intelligent women like two hens” admits a twofold interpretation.

2. Chickens know how to communicate

Those sounds, which we call the crowing and clucking is the language of communication. They seem to us to be the same, so they singled out only two groups: crowing – roosters, clucking – chickens, well, chickens squeak, but it does not count. And in fact, these sounds have more than 30 options.

Chickens know how to communicate

Birds inform each other that they have found food, laid an egg, warn about the mating period or danger.

3. Have chickens is changing mood

Joe Edgra, an ornithologist from the UK, has proven that chickens have feelings and the ability to demonstrate them. They can be sad away from home, show sympathy or, conversely, dislike someone and, most surprisingly, able to empathize.

4. Roosters can predict the weather no worse than weather forecasters

Our ancestors believed that rooster predicted the weather with his cock-crowing.

Roosters can predict the weather no worse than weather forecasters

Sang immediately after sunset – expect change of weather, after 9 PM – it will rain, and if after 10 PM – it will be clear.

5. Chickens love to make noise

In terms of love to make noise chickens geese are not competitors. No wonder geese are considered the most noisy birds. But chickens are not much behind them. First, because there are plenty of reasons for the noise:
— Hooray! The coop came a host/hostess!
— In the coop went in for the host/hostess! Danger!
— I want to lay an egg! Don’t distract me!
— Done, laid an egg!
— There’s food! A lot of food! All here!
— Who took my nest again?!
— Why did the dog come here? A cat?

Well, many other situations in the coop. The second reason for the hubbub in the coop is what chickens love company. One chicken is agitated, it is quickly transferred to all the others, and finally to the owner. Silence in the coop-an occasion to think about whether everything is in order at the birds.

6. Chickens-lovers dig

That’s true. Chickens are very fond of digging. So you need to be careful not to lose the harvest. Birds is leading instinct. Obeying him, they begin to dig everything (no matter whether it is a strawberry garden, potato or flower bed at all) in search of sweets.

Chickens love to dig

7. Rooster-head of hen house

Any chicken coop has a clear hierarchy, and Patriarchy reigns there. The parade is commanded by a cock. In the morning he wakes chickens (and not only them), on the night proclaims the end, finds food, defends from the attacks of other inhabitants of the land (for example, from yard dogs) and even solves the conflict between the chickens.

8. A chicken can be hypnotized

To hypnotize the chicken, you need to put it and press your head to the ground. Further from the beak to draw a line in any direction. Surprisingly, the bird will fall into torpor and will watch the line. Can several minutes, and can and all 30.

Ornithologists say that it is not hypnosis, but instinct: the bird, sensing danger, pretending to be dead.

9. Chickens are descendants of dinosaurs

Scientists are inclined to the fact that chickens — the only currently existing descendants of Tyrannosaurus. They are well oriented in space, run fast, well see, if necessary, choose tactics of attack.

Chickens are considered direct descendants of dinosaurs

10. Cock can live without a head

In 1945, a rooster lived headless for more than a year. His Miracle was Mike. The farmer cut off his head, but after a while he discovered that the bird was alive. It seemed curious to the farmer, and he decided to conduct an experiment to find out how much the headless rooster would” stretch”. Feed it had milk and grain through the pipette, dripping straight down his throat. Died cock through the year, and from what the owner forgot the syringe for flushing of the esophagus and the dropper for food during one of the demonstrations of the phenomenon to the public. More similar experience nobody has been able to repeat.

11. There are completely black cocks and chickens

Breed black cocks and chicken is called “Ayam Cemani”. Interestingly, the black they not only color, but also all internal organs, bones, meat and blood (not quite black, but much darker than usual).

Cock rock “Ayam Cemani”

To blame for such pigmentation a dominant gene. In Indonesia chicken “Ayam Cemani” is more than $ 200 due to the rarity of the breed.

12. Chinese silk chickens — a hybrid of chicken and rabbit

These fluffy birds have become a real hit. Their origins are steeped in mystery. There is an assumption that such chickens are the result of crossing a chicken and some fluffy rodent, for example, a rabbit. But it’s just a myth. Parents have silk chickens “standard” – chicken and rooster. Representatives of this breed are particularly structure of the tail – elevated shaggy and also have five fingers. They can’t fly.

Chinese silk hens

Another distinctive feature: behind the snow-white “coat” hides black leather and the same meat. Meat from chickens, silk is delicious, but because of the strange colors, not everyone wants to try it. Therefore, they start Chinese chicken as a family pet. Birds get along very well with people: they are friendly, active, love to be petted.

13. Images of chickens and roosters are actively used by people

Pro the, that in fairy tales and other literary works of full-full of the references about chickens and roosters, and to speak not worth: and so all know. But few know that the French in the 18th century chose The Gallic rooster as a symbol of their country. Why the rooster? The French consider, that this bird as cannot be better is handing their temperament. French men are gallant, brave, proud, but can easily flare up.

It is not surprising that the French, not some other company, has placed the image of a cock on its logo. Le Coq Sportif has been manufacturing sportswear since 1882. You can find out the clothes of this brand by the brand rooster in a triangle.

Le Coq Sportif logo above the entrance to Le Coq Sportif shop 20 September 2014 in Paris, France

Given the long “chicken” story, for sure, there are many similar facts. They can be connected with breeds of hens and roosters, with their behavior, for certain there are also interesting signs, etc.If among you there are experts of a question ready to share the observations, it will be very interesting to learn about your Pets.

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