12 Cool Facts About Chicken

What do you know about chicken beyond being that meal that you always look forward to? It is hard to go through a restaurant menu and fail to come across chicken as one of the items for sale. Chicken is loved by the young ones and the old in equal measures. However, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to chicken. The following are some of the cool facts about chicken that you might not know

There are different preparation approaches

Some people frown at the idea of preparing chicken as they believe that it needs a lot of time. There are hundreds of chicken recipes that you can prepare at home using an instant pot such as Cornish hen, as Corrie Cooks illustrates. An instant pot generates steam that speeds up the cooking process or even cuts it down by half.

Some of the chicken recipes can take more than an hour, while others require less than 30 minutes to be ready. The choice of preparation approach will depend on the time available and resources. For instance, deep-frying requires simple ingredients such as chicken, a deep fryer and oil. Another recipe, such as chicken noodle casserole, will require a ton of ingredients.

There are different breeds

You may have seen less than ten breeds of chicken in your lifetime. However, you will come across different breeds depending on regions. The choice of the breed will also depend on your goals. If you want birds that will lay you lots of eggs, then some breeds such as Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Sussex, Ancona, Marans, and Hamburg will suit your needs. Some breeds like Jersey Giant, Cornish Cross, Breese, and Freedom Rangers are a good option if you want chicken for meat you need to prepare recipes such as chicken grilled cheese sandwiches. The climate of the area will also determine if a certain breed can survive in a certain area.

Have binocular vision

A hen’s left eye concentrates on the distance and possible dangers while the right eye focuses on food and things on the surrounding. A human being sees in three color bands (blue, green, and red). Chicken has a similar vision but also has an ultraviolet waveband. The mother hen can thus determine the healthiest chick and focus more on raising it. Researchers also believe that the U.V. waveband makes it easy to determine the eggs that are ready to hatch (explains why she kicks some out of the nest)

Wild chicken have a higher lifespan

There are both domestic and wild chickens. The latter can survive in their natural habitat for five to seven years. A Red Quill Muffed American Gam, named Muffy that lived in Maryland, has been recorded as the oldest after clocking 22 years of age.

Chicken raised for meat can be slaughtered 41 days after they are hatched. ‘Free-range’ birds can survive up to 56 days until they are deemed ready for the market. Male chicks that are hatched in an egg-farm are usually killed or disposed of. About 97 chicken are slaughtered after every 0.05 seconds. The US is the world leader when it comes to chicken consumption, which is even higher than that of beef.

They have different names based on the stage

Chicks are the young ones of a chicken. The female ones that are yet to lay eggs are known as pellets. However, when they start laying eggs, they become hens. The name of a male chicken will depend on the region. Some of the most common names include cocks and roasters. A young male chicken is known as a cockerel. There are also categorizations based on what the chicken produces. For instance, broilers are chicken that are breed for meat, while layers are those that lay eggs.

Gainesville, Georgia is the “Poultry Capital of the World”

This town has a park and chicken monument, Jesse Jewell Pkwy, that illustrates its commitment towards progressing chicken rearing. The monument is named for Jesse Jewell (1902-1975), who applied his business acumen to promote chicken rearing at all levels. It is worth noting that it is illegal to eat fried chicken with a fork or any other utensil in this town.

Their hearing can regenerate

Many animals prey on chicken. Their hearing sense is thus essential to ensure they stay away from trouble. Chicken can determine where a sound is coming from and even pinpoint it accurately within a few feet. A hen starts to grow new cells when its hearing starts to deteriorate. The new cells can achieve up to 100% effectiveness.

Egg-laying capability varies

The highest number of eggs to have been ever laid by one hen in a day was seven. A mother hen can lay up to 300 eggs per year. 371 is the highest number of eggs that have ever been laid by one hen in one year. An egg needs about 88 degrees Fahrenheit to develop. However, the same egg will require about 105 degrees Fahrenheit during laying.

Domestication started in Southeast Asia

Cockfighting had a huge influence on the domestication of chicken from 2000 B.C. The modern chicken has more than 350 distinct physical features combinations. The spring and summer months are the best for breeding. These warmer months also have long stretches of daylight that favour egg-laying.

Two areas don’t rear chicken

Rearing chicken in Antarctica is a taboo. There is an international treaty that prohibits the importation of either live or raw poultry into the country. The treaty is meant to protect penguins from diseases. There is no live chicken with the city of the Vatican. However, you can still get chicken in the city at Castel Gandolfo, which is 26 miles away from the Vatican.

They are fast

Chicken run in short bursts but can cover as high 9km per hour. The speed is higher than a human stride as it covers approximately 3 meters per second.

Chicken can detect saltiness but not sweetness

A typical human being has between 8,000-10,000 taste buds. Chicken has less than 350 taste buds and thus misses some tastes.