From feathers and flock formation to imprinting and incubating, The Chicken provides a comprehensive, richly illustrated guide to understanding how chickens live, think, and act both alongside people and independently.

Table of Contents

• Introducing the Chicken
• CHAPTER 1 Evolution & Domestication
• Origins of the Domestic Chicken
• The Chicken in History & Culture
• The Changing Role of the Chicken
• The Chicken of Tomorrow
• CHAPTER 2 Anatomy & Biology
• The Skeleton
• Muscles
• Heart & Circulation
• Respiratory System
• Digestive System
• Male Reproductive System
• Female Reproductive System
• The Immune System
• The Skin
• Feathers
• Wattles & Combs
• Sensory System
• Thermoregulation
• Adaptations for Flight
• CHAPTER 3 Behavior
• Behavior of the Domestic Chicken
• Evolution & Domestication
• Behavioral Differences between the Sexes
• Feeding & Drinking
• Resting & Roosting
• Maintaining Appearances
• Avoiding Predators
• Alarm Calls
• Flock Formation
• Aggression, Competition, & Alliances
• Calling & Other Vocalizations
• The Consequences of Mating
• Nest Building & Egg Laying
• Incubation
• Behavior of Embryos
• Hatching
• Parental Behavior
• Behavior of Chicks
• Behavioral Role Models
• Chickens Behaving Badly
• CHAPTER 4 Intelligence & Learning
• Intelligence & Learning
• Inside the Brain
• Lateralization & Vision
• Imprinting & Learning
• Cognitive Ability
• The Effects of Domestication
• Social Learning
• Living in a Hierarchy
• Food & Learning
• Training
• Understanding Chicken Preferences
• Emotion & Welfare
• CHAPTER 5 Breeds
• Fancy Fowl & the Chicken Frenzy of the Nineteenth Century
• Dual-Purpose Breeds
• Game Breeds
• Laying Breeds
• Meat Breeds
• Ornamental Breeds
• True Bantam
• The Evolution of Commercial Strains
• Useful Resources
• Breeds List
• Author Biographies
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgments