Chickens may occasionally fly briefly to explore their surroundings, but generally do so only to flee perceived danger.Ĭhickens are gregarious birds and live together in flocks.
ĭomestic chickens are not capable of long-distance flight, although lighter chickens are generally capable of flying for short distances, such as over fences or into trees (where they would naturally roost). Both the adult male and female have wattles and combs, but in most breeds these are more prominent in males.Ī 'muff' or 'beard' is a mutation found in several chicken breeds which causes extra feathering under the chicken's face, giving the appearance of a beard. Collectively, these and other fleshy protuberances on the head and throat are called caruncles.
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Adult chickens have a fleshy crest on their heads called a comb, or cockscomb, and hanging flaps of skin either side under their beaks called wattles. The identification can be made by looking at the comb, or eventually from the development of spurs on the male's legs (in a few breeds and in certain hybrids, the male and female chicks may be differentiated by colour).
However, in some breeds, such as the Sebright chicken, the rooster has only slightly pointed neck feathers, the same colour as the hen's. Roosters can usually be differentiated from hens by their striking plumage of long flowing tails and shiny, pointed feathers on their necks ('hackles') and backs ('saddle'), which are typically of brighter, bolder colours than those of females of the same breed. Ĭhicken may also mean a chick (see for example Hen and Chicken Islands). In older sources, chicken as a species were typically referred to as common fowl or domestic fowl. However, thanks to its usage on restaurant menus, it has now become the most common term for the subspecies in general, especially in American English.