Why Do Chickens Have Wings if they Don’t Fly

Why Do Chickens Have Wings if they Don’t Fly? We all are misled by the word “bird” as we think that these animals can fly. Despite their large wings, chickens cannot fly in the same way as other birds. This animal can still glide and even fly low for a short time. Everything also depends on the breeder, who may or may not have chopped down its wings, a technique used to prevent its escape.

As with other animals bred by humans – dogs or cows for example – hens have been selected to produce multiple breeds. These selections have, therefore, profoundly changed their morphology and behavior. The hens are heavier and their muscles are no longer sufficient. In a few generations, domestication has made the chicken, goose, and turkeys lose their ability to fly at a great altitude.

12 Ways to Make Money by Chicken Farming—Extensive Guidelines for Chicken Farmers

Note that the golden rooster, which still lives in the jungles of South and Southeast Asia, is perfectly capable of flying, especially to escape its predators.

Why Do Chickens Have Wings if they Don’t Fly / General Information

The chicken is one of the most domesticated animals in the world. The first domestic creations of the species probably appeared in Asia, about 4,000 years ago.

Naturally, it feeds on insects, grains, seeds, fruits, and earthworms. On average, they live up to 16 years.

Why Chickens Can’t Fly / Historical Anatomy

The wild chicken (Gallus ), a bird originally from India, China, and southwest Asia, is the closest ancestor we have domesticated for over 8,000 years. Unlike the wild hen, which can fly short distances, the domestic hen can barely lift off from the ground.

For this reason, we can say that the chicken does not fly because her ancestor was not a great flier either. However, man’s intervention only made things worse for the chicken in this sense.

The pneumatic bones, air sacs, and muscles of chickens are less developed than eagles, parrots, etc.

Descendants of the dinosaurs, the beaked birds had teeth a few million years ago. But according to the ornithologists, since they did not need to chew their food they became useless and the beaked birds lost them. But in the chicken, the teeth have not completely disappeared from their DNA… Except briefly, during the development of the avian embryo, during which appeared a single tooth, called “egg tooth”, grows at the tip of the chick’s beak before falling. It is this “tooth” which allows it to break the shell when it wants to come out.

Production Of Chicken

Chickens are those land animals raised for food consumption.

In 2016, 66,000 chickens were raised and slaughtered worldwide, 7.4 billion chickens in the European Union, 800 million chickens in France.

Presently, 23 billion chickens live on Earth. 10 times more than any other species of bird and 40 times more than the number of sparrows. Researcher Carys Bennett reports that the total mass of domestic chickens is three times that of all wild bird species combined.

Standard Chicken Farming

In France, the raising of chickens is mainly intensive since more than 80% of the birds are raised according to this mode of production.

In this type of breeding, birds are kept at 22 per square meters on average in large closed buildings. Unlike some chicken farms, in France, broilers are not reared in cages. The great proximity between animals is a great source of discomfort and stress for birds.

The high densities, as well as the presence of litter often dirty and wet (the latter is rarely changed between the arrival of the chicks in the farm and their departure for the slaughterhouse a month later), helps in the spreading of diseases. Intensive farming is, therefore, one of the culprits in the outbreak of avian flu-like epidemics.

Intensive breeding chickens come from fast-growing strains, genetically selected to give individuals which grow quickly.

This growth is more rapid over the centuries since the birds reach today their slaughter weight in 35 days, which is 4 times faster than in 1950. This rapid growth is likely to cause locomotive problems in birds.

More than 30% of the chickens die inbreeding because of these conditions of production. To limit the mortality rate and increase the productivity of the birds, antibiotics are often distributed in the food of chickens.

Chicken farming is regulated at the European level by the European Directive for the protection of broiler chickens. Entered into force in 2010, this text is regularly criticized by animal protection associations as insufficiently protective to ensure animal breeding conditions without suffering.

Chicken Slaughtering

To be brought to the slaughterhouse, the chickens are picked up by hand or by machine, most often by specialized companies. This stage of production is often a source of significant stress and suffering for animals already weakened by their breeding conditions and genetic selection.

The transport time of the animals is regulated by the European regulation which authorizes traveling of 12 consecutive hours without access to water. The most common method of slaughter is electronarcosis.

The birds come out of the transport boxes and hung by their legs, on a metal rail. Head upside down, they are then immersed in an electric water bath, a step aimed at making them unconscious before their slaughter.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is strongly against this method of slaughter because of the great suffering it causes to chickens. INRA had already pointed out the suffering linked to this method hence causing fractures, dislocations, hemorrhages to the poor animals.

Man’s Fault

It was through a genetic selection that man was selecting chickens, to satisfy his hunger. Thus, we can say that chickens are not natural species, since they are not, what they are today, due to “artificial selection” made by Man.

In the case of “meat hens”, they were selected based on their muscles,  since they render more meat. These overweight chickens and their rapid growth,  not only prevents them from flying, but they also suffer from many associated problems, such as joint and leg diseases.

It is its weight (between 2 and 3 kg), ( 4lbs – 8 Lbs) which prevents it from gaining altitude and the low lift of its wings which prevents it from ensuring a gliding flight.

Conversely, the hen, losing its ability to fly, learned to run faster by developing 3 fingers on each leg. If the hen no longer flies, it is because of man.. Man has long understood that this gallinaceous animal presented an important and inexpensive source of food.

Sometimes, chickens, since they are lighter, manage to have a proportion of weight more appropriate to the size of their wings, which allows them to fly short distances. However, the distance and height they can fly are so small that it is easy to keep them within a small fence so that they can not escape.

Egg Laying Hens

The so-called ‘egg-laying hens’ (chickens that ‘lay’ eggs) can produce about 370 eggs per production cycle, between 18 and 80 weeks of age.

The hen alone, due to the characteristics of its reproductive system, produces eggs without the need to reproduce with the rooster. When this happens, chicks are born. Their color is determined by the breed of the hen. So there are white, beige, and dark beige eggs. Species have a habit of setting up their own families, formed alongside one rooster for every ten hens

On the other hand, these hens were selected to lay more eggs. Laying hens can reach up to 300 eggs per year, unlike wild hens that lay between 12 to 20 eggs per year.

Although this selection does not significantly affect the flight capacity of these chickens (they can fly at short distances) it has other associated problems, such as the loss of calcium originated due to excessive production of eggs that are often associated with lack of exercise as they cannot move freely in little spaces,  which is the clear exploitation of these animals at the hands of owners.

Although chickens have limited flight capabilities, they have many attributes that most people are unaware of. They are very intelligent animals, with logical reasoning ability.

Why Don’t They Fly If They Have Wings

This answer is simple,  chickens do not fly because of their weight.

The domestic chicken is very heavy, as it is raised in for the production of eggs and chicken meat. These animals are subjected to a form of breeding that helps them to increase their weight. Another problem is that these farm birds lay eggs every day, a fact that also increases the weight of these animals.

Conclusion

Another explanation is that, during the evolution of such species, the chicken was domesticated and ended up losing the need to fly. Chickens also do not have pneumatic bones, air sacs, and highly developed pectoral and wing muscles.

Thus, we will hardly see a chicken flying because we only live with fat domestic chickens, raised only, to be consumed by men. Hence we can say,  that chickens are very useful animals in terms of food but the avarice of man has prompted this poor fellow to lose its wings at the expense of just a few bites.

Family Sized Chicken Farm Egg Calculator

Number of Chickens	Number of Eggs / Day	Number of Eggs / Week	Number of Eggs / Month	Number of Eggs / Year	Family Size	$ Value = .30 / Egg
1	.5	3.5	24	168		50.40
2	1	7	28	336	1	100.80
3	1.5	10.5	42	504		151.20
4	2	14	56	672	2	201.60
5	2.5	17.5	70	840		252.00
6	3	21	84	1008	3	302.40
7	3.5	24.5	98	1176		352.80
8	4	28	112	1344	4	403.20
9	4.5	31.5	126	1512		453.60
10	5	35	140	1680	5	504.00
11	5.5	38.5	154	1848		554.40
12	6	42	168	2016	6	604.80
13	6.5	45.5	182	2184		655.20
14	7	49	196	2352	8	705.60
15	7.5	52.5	210	2520		756.00
25	12.5	87.5	350	4200		1260.00
50	25	175	700	8400		2520.00
75	37.50	262.5	1050	12600		3780.00
100	50	350	1400	16800		5040.00

How Many Chickens Do I need to Provide Eggs For my Family
Per Day / Per Week / Per Month / Per Year / Dollar Value

Rare Breed Chicken Farming

Rare Breeds	Country of Origin	Eggs/Week	Average Weight	Price / Chicks
Black Penedesenca	Spain	3-4	4-5lbs	$ 13.43
Black Sumatra	Sumatra	4 / Tinted in Color	4lbs	$ 4.56
Ameraucana	United States / Chile	3 / 4 Blue	5 lbs	$ 4.25
Lavender Orpington	England	4 / 5 Brown	5 lbs	$ 6.08
Partridge Chantecler	Canada	3-5 / Brown	7 lbs
Wyandotte	United States	3 - 5 / Tinted Brown	6 lbs	$ 4.90
Welsummer	Welsum Netherlands	4 / Dark Brown	5 lbs	$ 5.95
Silver Grey Dorking	UK / Roman		8 lbs	$ 5.95
Light Brahma	United States / China	Brown	13 lbs	$ 4.90
Silver Laced Cochin / Shanghai	China	5-6 / Brown	6 lbs	$ 4.90
White Marans	Marans / France	4 / Dark Brown	5 lbs	$ 6.08
Dominiques	United States	4 - 5 / Brown	7 lbs	$ 4.90
Exchequer Leghorn	Tuscany Italy	White	5 lbs	$ 4.25
Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhaubens	Switzerland	5	4 lbs
Buff Brahma Standard	Shanghai China	Brown	13 lbs	$ 4.90
Silver Laced Polish	Poland / Netherlands		4-5 lbs	$ 5.95
White Sultan / Fowls of the Sultan	Turkey	2 - 3 / White	4-6 lbs	$ 7.75
Mottled Houdan	Houdan Paris France	White	4 - 5 lbs	$ 7.75
Dong Tao / Dragon Chicken	Vietnam	2/3		$ 2500 -
Ayam Cemani	Indonesia	3 / Cream	5 lbs	$ 50 - $ 2500
Onagadori / Honorable Chicken	Japan			$ 49.00
Polverara	Italy	2 / 3
Ixworth	Sussex UK	4 / Cream
Naked Neck / Transylvanian Naked-Neck chickens.	Transylvania	5		$ 4.25
Campaign	Belgium	7 / White	5 lbs	$ 7.75 / Golden
Deathlayer /	German	7 / White		$ 99.00
Serama / Smallest Chicken in the World	Thailand		.5 - 1 Lb	$ 39.00
Silkie / Silky	Chinese	2 / Cream		$ 5.75 / White $ 5.75 / Blue $ 5.75 / Buff $ 5.75 / Black

Pricing is buying 1 Chick - Bulk gives better prices - they are also only available during a special date ranges

Types of Chicken Breeds

Chicken Breeds	Origin	Meat/ Layers / Dual Purpose	Finished Weight	Eggs per Week	Weeks to Slaughter
Broilers	Canada/US/Europe	Meat	3.3 lbs	5	14 Weeks
Cornish crosses	England	Meat	6.5 - 8.5 lbs	3	8 - 9 Weeks
Jersey Giants	USA	Meat ( Intended to replace Turkeys)	13 lbs	4	8 - 9 Months
Hertigage Breeds					6 - 9 months
Delaware	USA Delaware	Duo	6.5 lbs	4 - large	8 Months
Dorking	United Kingdom	Duo	10 - 14 lbs	5 - med	5 Months
Buckeye	USA Ohio	Duo	6 - 9 lbs	4 - med	5 Months
Rhode Island Red	USA Rhode Island	Duo	6 b- 8 lbs	5-6	5 Months
Leghorn	Italy	Eggs	4 -5 lbs	4	8 Months
Plymouth Rock	USA - Massachusetts	Duo	7.5 lbs	4	5 Months
Sussex	United Kingdom	Duo	7 lbs	4 - 5 - large	5 Months
Wyandotte	Canada	Duo	7 - 9 lbs		5 Months
Welsummer	Netherlands	Duo	7 lbs	4 / Week	5 Months
Hamburg	United Kingdom	Eggs	7 lb	4 - med	9 weeks
Black Australorp	Australia	Duo	\3 - 5 lb	5 - med	5 months
Buff Orpington	England	Duo	7 - 8 Lbs	4 - 5	8 months
Brahma		Meat	11 lbs	3 - med	5 monthss

Name of Breed
Origin
Meat Breeds
Laying Breeds
Dual Purpose Breeds

Natural Foods for Free Range Chickens

Insects They Love to Eat	Insects they will not eat
Earthworms	Elderbugs
Grasshoppers	Lady Bugs
Grasshoppers	Honey Bees
Ants	Wasp
Terminates	Bumble Bees
Grasses	Stink Bugs
Green Leafy
Berries
Hookworms
Larvae
Spiders
Scorpions
Beetles
Spiders
Grubs
Mealworms
Crickets
Ticks
Slugs
Mayflies
Parisite Eggs
Gnats
Cockroaches
Japanese beetles
Earwigs
Butterflies
Salamanders
Tiny Lizards
Tomatoe Worms
Cabbage Worms
Fleas
Pill Bugs
Amphids
Misquitos
Fly / Maggots
Fire Ants

Natural Foods for Free Range Chickens
Insects they will Eat
Insects they will not eat

Chicken / Poultry Breeder Associations

Rabbit Association	Location	Link
US Poultry & Egg Association	United States	USPA
American Poultry Association	California	APA
Ohio Poultry Association	Ohio	OPA
National Chicken Council	United States	NCC
British Poultry Council	United Kingdom	BPCE
Poultry Club of Great Britain	United Kingdom	PCGB
Association of Poultry Breeders in EU	Europe	AVEC
Australian Chicken Meat Federation Inc	Australia	ACMF
Australian Poultry Hub	Australia	Poultry Hub