Chicken

The chicken is a clever, friendly bird that lives close to people all over the world. Long ago, chickens came from a wild bird called the red junglefowl, which still lives in the forests of Asia. Chickens have soft feathers, a small pointy beak, and a red, bumpy crown on top of their head called a comb.

Chickens are very social animals. They like to live together in a group called a flock, and they get to know each other well. A chicken can remember lots of different faces and tell its friends apart. Within the flock they learn who is who, and they enjoy each other's company.

Chickens have plenty to say. They use many different sounds to talk to one another, such as a soft cluck to keep the flock together or a sharp call to warn that a hawk is flying overhead. When one chicken finds tasty food, it may call the others over to share the good news.

A mother hen is very caring. She even talks to her chicks while they are still inside their eggs, and the babies cheep back to her before they hatch. After they break out of the shell, she keeps them warm, shows them how to find food, and watches over them while they explore.

Chickens love to scratch in the dirt with their feet, looking for seeds and little bugs to eat. They also enjoy dust baths, flapping the soft dust through their feathers to stay clean. Curious, chatty, and full of character, the chicken is a smart little bird with feelings and friendships of its own.