Chickens

Our chickens come in all shapes and sizes, colours and markings. Come to the farm and see how many different types you can spot!

We have a large array of chickens, some of them are perfect for handling, some of them are perfect for laying eggs. The best ones, of course, do both! When you come and visit the farm, see how many different breeds you can spot.

Do chickens fly?

Did you know that that chickens can’t really fly despite having wings and lots of feathers? Their wings give them just enough lift to jump out of danger and roost on low tree branches but they are too heavy to fly properly and find all of their food on the ground.

People started keeping chickens for eggs and meat around 9,000 years ago. Before this the ancestors of the chickens would have lived wild in the forests of Thailand in South East Asia. Over time chickens spread around the world, first to China then India followed by Asia, Africa and Europe.

What are those red bits?

The hanging flaps of red skin beneath the chin are called wattles and the one on top of a chicken’s head is called the comb. Chicken cannot sweat and therefor need a different way to cool down. The comb and the wattle help keep the chicken cool in hot weather by circulating warm blood close to the surface of the skin.

The comb and the wattle also help you tell if a chicken is male or female, as they are generally larger in the male chicken. Males also have a large spike on their ankles called a spur which they use to fight other males over territory and females.