Читать книгу The Henkeeping Specialist - David Squire - Страница 6

The range of poultry species kept for the eggs they produce and the meat they provide is wide. This mainly comprises chickens, with ducks, guinea fowl and quails (see pages 68–73) playing a lesser role. However, like chickens, they have an enthusiastic and dedicated following. The number of chickens kept for their eggs or meat far exceeds that of other poultry, with a current estimated global figure of more than 28 billion, which is expected to rise.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF DOMESTICATED CHICKENS?

Chickens have been domesticated and kept for their eggs and meat for many thousands of years. Now scientifically known as Gallus gallus domesticus, chickens were earlier thought to have been first domesticated in India, but now Southeast Asia and probably Vietnam are considered to be more accurate, at about 10,000 years ago.

From India, domestication spread to Asia Minor, then to Greece about 7,000 years ago and subsequently to Egypt during the 18th Dynasty (1550–1292 BCE). Chickens are now known worldwide and widely kept for their eggs or meat.

What is the chicken’s ancestry?

Previously, the domesticated chicken was believed to have descended from both the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) and the Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii). However, modern genetics indicate that the Grey Junglefowl is the most likely ancestor.