We know that chickens descend from red junglefowl of East Asia (with a little bit of those yellow-legged grey junglefowl) but we are still a little uncertain about the timing and circumstances of the chicken’s domestication…...
About the Project
Chickens (also known as 'domestic fowl') are native to South East Asia but, today, they have a worldwide distribution. Their diffusion is almost entirely due to human-assisted transportation and, as such, their natural history is a reflection of human history.
Given the social significance of this species (whether as a provider of foodstuffs, their widespread use in cock-fighting or within magic and medicine) and their growing popularity as domestic pets, a detailed analysis of their natural and cultural history in the West is long overdue.
Project Blog
Explore the latest project events and discoveries via our blog articles.
This is a grey junglefowl, which is on display at the Oxford University Natural History Museum.
If you're heading to Oxford, why not download this mini-chicken trail!
Follow us
Keep up to date with the latest project news via our Twitter feed.
@Chicken_Project