Most scientists agree that the Southeast Asian Red Junglefowl (gallus gallus) is the primary wild ancestor of chickens. However, because DNA studies show that the Red Junglefowl lacks the gene for yellow skin (and shanks) it is believed that some point, hybridization with the Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonnaratii) of India has occurred. The body structure of the Indian Gamebird (Cornish) and the Brahmas of China gives physical evidence of Grey Jungle- fowl influence. The tail carriage of the breed Sumatra indicates genetic contributions of the SriLanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetti). No doubt the Green Junglefowl (Gallus varius) has also contributed to modern chickens. Red Jungefowl (Gallus gallus).
The classification of today’s chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) recognizes its primary origin, the Red Junglefowl. Domestication probably occurred 7,000-10,000 years ago in Southeast Asia and Oceana.
Distribution of Chickens occurred rapidly and was widespread because of their ability to provide meat and eggs without being competitive for human food sources. But it is believed that the sport of Cockfighting was the principle reason for dispersion of chickens.
The Auracana, originally found in Auracania region of Chile continues to provide confusion. Some scientists believe that it was Pre-Columbian and originally from Polynesia. But DNA evidence disputes this theory. The Sebright Bantam was developed by Sir John Sebright in the early 19th Century.
It is interesting to note that Charles Darwin borrowed extensively from pigeon and chicken breeders of is time in order to formulate his Origin of the Species. Sir John Sebright developer of the Sebright Bantam was often quoted by Darwin in the mid-19th century.
Even the Punnett Square, that we all learned to use in Biology Class, was named for R. C. Punnett, who utilized chicken gene traits to prove Mendelian Genetics at the beginning of the 20th century.
Chicken is one of the most popular meats around the world, but have you ever wondered who invented this delicious bird for human consumption? The domestication and farming of chickens has a long and storied history, dating back thousands of years. Join me as we unravel the origins of the chicken and how it became a dietary staple across the globe.
Tracing the Ancestry of the Chicken
The chicken we eat today is descended from the Red Junglefowl, a wild bird native to Southeast Asia. The Red Junglefowl (scientific name Gallus gallus) is believed to be the primary ancestor of the modern domestic chicken. However, DNA evidence shows that other Junglefowl species like the Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonnaratii) of India and the Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetti) have contributed to the genetic makeup of today’s chickens.
Many years of selective breeding with the Red Junglefowl led to the development of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). It is thought that the first chickens were tamed around 7,000 to 10,000 years ago in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Charles Darwin even looked at chicken breeders to help him come up with his ideas about evolution and natural selection.
Spreading Across the Ancient World Through Trade and Cockfighting
Once domesticated chickens spread rapidly across the world. Because they could always provide meat and eggs, they were a valuable trade item. It is known that chickens were already in Greece and Rome by the 5th century BC.
But a lot of historians think that cockfighting was the main reason why chickens spread out so quickly in the past. Many ancient civilizations enjoyed this bloody sport as a way to have fun and win money. Jungle fowl with strong instincts for survival were bred to make birds that are aggressive when they fight. Their spread along trade routes is a lot like how cockfighting spread.
Chicken Breeding Takes Off in the 1800s
While chickens were farmed for thousands of years, it was only in the mid-19th century that specialized chicken breeds emerged. Before that, chickens were mostly heterogeneous landrace breeds without systematic improvement.
In 1852, the first poultry show was organized in Boston, showing the growing interest in chicken breeding. In 1874, the American Poultry Association published the first Standard of Excellence establishing breed standards and characteristics. This ushered in the “Golden Age of Poultry Breeding” with purebred chickens being actively developed across North America and Europe.
Famous chicken breeds like the Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, and Wyandottes trace their origins to this period. Different breeds were created for meat production, egg laying, and as ornamental birds.
The Rise of Commercial Chicken Farming
In the late 1800s, chicken farming became very popular, but most chickens were still raised on a small scale for use in the home. In the 1920s, the idea of vertical integration changed everything. It turned the poultry industry into a powerhouse of mass production.
Companies like Tyson Foods pioneered the model of controlling every stage of chicken production from the parent stock, hatcheries, grow-out farms, processing plants, and marketing. Family-owned chicken farms were contracted to specialize at one stage of production.
New systems like confinement rearing, mechanized processing, and economies of scale led to cheap mass-produced chicken. Per capita chicken consumption rose dramatically in the post-World War II era thanks to these innovations.
Hybrid Hens Drive the Egg Production Revolution
Just like broilers, egg laying hens also saw huge productivity gains in the 20th century. Much credit goes to Henry A. Wallace, founder of the Pioneer hybrid corn company, who realized hybrid vigor could be exploited in chickens too. In 1936, Wallace established Hy-Line Poultry Farms to develop the world’s first hybrid egg-laying chickens.
Hybrid white layers, like the Hy-Line W-36, could produce 300 eggs annually compared to only 200 for heritage breeds. Universities and corporations commercialized their own hybrid brown-egg layers as well, revolutionizing the egg industry.
Who Invented Chicken Nuggets and Fast Food Chicken?
No history of chicken would be complete without mentioning the rapid rise of chicken nuggets and fast food chicken. But contrary to popular belief, McDonald’s did not invent chicken nuggets. The genius behind chicken nuggets was Cornell professor Robert C. Baker.
In the 1950s and 60s, Baker pioneered new methods of processed poultry products and created the first chicken sticks, chicken hot dogs, turkey ham, and other recreations. His most famous invention was the chicken nugget, patented in 1963, using ground chicken mixed with binders and flavorings then breaded and fried.
McDonald’s took Baker’s chicken nugget concept and mass marketed their Chicken McNugget product starting in the 1980s. Chicken nuggets became a fast food phenomenon along with fried chicken chains like KFC, Chick-fil-A, and Popeyes.
The Global Chicken Industry Today
From its origins in the jungles of Southeast Asia, the chicken has come a long way over thousands of years of domestication and specialized breeding. Today, chicken is the most widely eaten meat in America thanks to its versatility, nutrition, and affordability.
Advances in genetics, nutrition, processing, and data-driven farming have made chicken production one of the most efficient forms of animal agriculture. The global chicken industry continues to grow as emerging markets boost their consumption of poultry. It seems our love affair with the chicken will only continue to deepen in the future.
So next time you sink your teeth into a juicy chicken sandwich or dip a nugget in sauce, take a moment to appreciate the long human history behind this bird and how it became a dietary staple around the world. The story of the chicken showcases how far humanity has come in our ability to reshape and control the natural world.
County Fair Entry Books Can Be Confusing
Most Wisconsin county fair entry books follow State Statutes that were passed before Hybrid Laying chickens were readily available. As a result, the terms “Crossbred egg type white earlobes” and “Crossbred egg type red earlobes” are no longer correct. Instead, the hybrid white and brown pullets shown above should be used for these classes. Crossbreds or purebreds will be down-graded as production pullets.
Much of the credit for Hybrid Layers can be given to Henry A. Wallace, the founder of Pioneer hybrid seed corn company in 1926. After seeing how well corn did, Wallace thought that the same thing could be done with laying hens. In 1936 Wallace established Hy-Line poultry genetics on his farm in Iowa. In 1944 the DeKalb seed corn company began development of its own hybrid layers. Schools and other hatcheries also started their own lines of hybrid layers, which is how the Wisco White and the California White came to be.
Today, the majority of hybrid layer genetics is concentrated in several large international companies. These companies produce the parent stock that hatcheries purchase to produce the chicks that they sell to producers. Poultry project members should familiarize themselves with these companies and ask their suppliers of chicks the origins of their birds. These major suppliers include:
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Egg Producing Breeds of Chickens
All chickens produce eggs that can be used by people for food. By providing proper diets and environment, specifically light, chickens can be stimulated to produce quantities of nutritious eggs.
By selecting for specific physical traits, generation after generation, breeds chickens were developed. In 1874 the American Poultry Association published the first Standard of Excellence that outlined the breed characteristics. This ushered in the “Golden Age of Pure Breeding” and poultry led the way for all species of livestock.
Heavy breeds such as the Brahma, matured slowly and did not excel in egg production. Light breeds, including the Minorca, Leghorn and Ancona, were great egg producers, but lacked the size to be good meat producers. Dual purpose breeds like the Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock and White Wyandotte met both requirements, but seldom produce more than 250 eggs per year!
Breeds with white earlobes tend to produce white eggs and those with red earlobes usually produce brown eggs.
Therefore, any pure breed of chicken can be kept for egg production. However, modern egg production hybrids far surpass the pure breeds in egg production and feed efficiency. These birds will produce well over 300 eggs per year and will convert about 2 pounds of feed into a dozen large eggs!
How the US Invented Chicken
FAQ
Who first started eating chicken?
Archaeologists think they have found proof of when people first started eating chicken in a city called Maresha in what is now Israel. This is a city that was at its peak from around 400 BCE to 200 BCE.
Are chickens original or man-made?
Chickens were domesticated from the wild Red Jungle Fowl. The principle of domestication of chickens, as well as other farm animals, by humans is similar to that of natural selection: selecting the best animals with the highest survivability and reproducibility on farm (artificial selection).
What two birds create a chicken?
The chicken was first tamed from red junglefowl. Later, genes from grey junglefowl, Sri Lankan junglefowl, and green junglefowl were added.
Who invented fried chicken?
Fried chicken, like many traditional dishes, doesn’t have a single inventor. From the ancient Roman Empire to the modern KFC, fried chicken has a long history with various cultures contributing to its development. Fried chicken has been prepared in different forms by many cultures around the world for centuries.
Who invented chicken nuggets?
Robert C. Baker: the man who invented chicken nuggets. Robert C. Baker was a poultry savant. But his contribution to fast food has been erased from the history books. Photograph by Jack Puccio/iStockphoto/Thinkstock.
Do you know the history of chickens?
Not many chicken keepers know about the extensive history of chickens. It might come as a surprise, but those cute chickens in your yard used to be wild birds that lived in Southeast Asian jungles. They foraged on whatever they could find in the dirt which is very different to today’s grain-fed chickens.
Who invented the Chicken McNugget?
Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Eighteen years before McDonald’s unleashed the Chicken McNugget, a food science professor named Robert C. Baker was whipping up batter-coated chicken bites from his test kitchen at Cornell University, although this fact is often forgotten.
When was chicken domesticated?
Exactly when and where the chicken was domesticated remains controversial. Genomic studies estimate that the chicken was domesticated 8,000 years ago 49 in Southeast Asia and spread to China and India 2,000 to 3,000 years later.
Where did chickens come from?
Chickens were widespread throughout southern Central Asia by the 4th century BC. Middle Eastern chicken remains go back to a little earlier than 2000 BC in Syria. 66 Phoenicians spread chickens along the Mediterranean coasts as far as Iberia.