Poultry, in animal husbandry, refers to domesticated or commercially farmed birds raised for their meat, eggs, or feathers. Guinea hens and squabs are primarily of local significance, whereas chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese are of significant economic value.

Poultry is the largest domestic animal stock in the world by number of animals, and in the first decade of the twenty-first century, chicken meat output grew at the quickest rate. Affordable, high-quality protein is available in poultry meat and eggs.

Poultry farming is sustainable, effective, and can offer a ready supply of money and sustenance, especially on a small scale.

NATURAL HISTORY OF CHICKENS

The shape of chickens is rounded and squat. They are typically under 70 cm (27.6 inches) tall and 2.6 kg (5.7 pounds) in weight. Both sexes' fleshy combs, lobed wattles that hang below the bill, and high-arched tails make males and females, known as cocks or roosters, and hens, distinctively. Some roosters' tails can reach a length of more than 30 cm (12 inches).

In the spring and summer, chickens reproduce. Long periods of daylight that occur in the warmer months encourage egg laying; however, artificial lights installed in chicken coops can boost a hen's egg laying response at any time of the year.

Between ovulation and egg-laying, there are roughly 23–26 hours. Some hens can lay as many as 300 eggs each year because subsequent ovulations can happen within an hour of the preceding egg being placed.

Embryos that have been fertilised grow swiftly, and chicks typically hatch about 21 days after that. Although chicks are born with down covering them, they swiftly develop and reach full feathering around four to five weeks. Males begin to create viable sperm at around six months, and females begin to produce viable eggs.

Members of flocks that are allowed to roam freely may, in ideal circumstances, live for six to eight years, but most hens used in the poultry business are kept for two to three years as egg layers before being killed for their meat, which is primarily eaten as pet food. In confinement, chickens have been reported to live up to 30 years.

Social standing

Every chicken flock establishes a social structure that governs who has access to food, nesting locations, mates, and other resources. A flock typically consists of one dominant adult male, a few subdominant males, and two or more females who are under the dominant male's close supervision.

Chickens' social structures are based on sex and take the form of a pecking order, in which those at the top of the social ladder may use their beaks to attack those at the bottom to gain access to food and other resources. However, fighting may also involve slapping and scratching with claws and wings.

In industrial production environments, chickens of the same sex and age group are frequently housed together. By the tenth week of life, the pecking order among groups of female chicks is established.

Fighting for supremacy, however, may go on into adulthood in groups of male chicks. Males are more likely to be injured or killed in fights than females are when one adult bird challenges another, which most frequently occurs when a new bird is introduced to the flock.

Economic production and domestication

Throughout the past 7,400 years, chickens have probably been domesticated more than once, with the early domestications presumably taking place for religious purposes or for the purpose of rearing war birds.

Since at least the last 2,000 years, descendants of those domestications have dispersed around the globe in multiple waves. During most of that time, chickens were a typical livestock addition to farms and ranches across Eurasia and Africa.

Yet, chicken meat and eggs weren't mass-produced commodities until the early 20th century.

By 1920, in Great Britain, and after World War II in the United States, rows of cages were placed indoors to control heat, light, and humidity in modern high-volume chicken farms. Females are raised for their meat and edible eggs, including older hens and younger birds known as pullets. To meet economic needs, farmers have created a variety of breeds and kinds.

Initially, the production of meat was a by-product of the production of eggs. The only hens that were killed and sold for meat were those who could no longer produce enough eggs. Yet, as a specialised business, meat production had surpassed egg production by the middle of the 20th century. Since then, the demand for chicken meat has increased significantly; by the beginning of the twenty-first century, global exports had risen to around 12.5 million metric tons (or 13.8 million tons).

Long before cockfighting became illegal in many places, mature males were employed for both sport and breeding. To make them become meat birds, many juvenile male cockerels are castrated - often chemically, using hormones that cause the testicles to atrophy- (capons).

In conclusion, the natural history of poultry is a fascinating topic that offers insights into the behaviour, ecology, and evolution of domesticated birds. From their wild ancestors to their current status as a widely consumed food source; chickens, turkeys, and other domesticated poultry have undergone significant changes over the centuries. As we have seen, domesticated poultry share many similarities with their wild ancestors in terms of their behavior and social structure. They are highly social animals that form complex social hierarchies, establish territories, and communicate through a variety of vocalisations and body language.

Despite their domestication, however, poultry still retain many of their wild instincts. For example, they continue to exhibit natural behaviors such as dust bathing, foraging, and nesting. These behaviors not only serve important functions for the birds themselves but also have benefits for the environment and can contribute to sustainable agriculture practices. Understanding the natural history of poultry can also help us to better manage and care for these birds. By providing them with appropriate living conditions, access to natural behaviours, and a balanced diet, we can ensure their health and well-being, as well as the safety and quality of the food they provide.

The natural history of poultry is an important and fascinating topic that can provide valuable insights into the behaviour and ecology of these domesticated birds. By studying and appreciating their natural history, we can develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for these important animals and the roles they play in our lives.