Domestic chicken

Domestic chicken

Scientific name: Gallus gallus domesticus
Situation in the wild: common
The Jerusalem Zoo: Breeding group at the children's Zoo
In the Bible: The only reference is the "sekhvi"
The domesticated chicken has an estimated population of some 24 billion specimens worldwide – probably larger than that of any other breed of bird or domestic animal on earth. Surprisingly, the Chicken did not become popular in the West until thousands of years after its initial domestication in Southern Asia, in the region of present-day Pakistan. Domestic hens and roosters today provide humankind with both meat and eggs, while countless ornamental breeds are prized for their beauty. And, if we are to believe Jewish grandmothers, chickens also provide us with that unique remedy for almost every ailment – chicken soup! As the domestic chicken became widespread at a comparatively late stage in history, it is not mentioned in the Bible, apart from a single reference to the sekhvi (Job 38:36), which is generally supposed to be a rooster. You can enjoy watching the chickens and roosters roaming freely at the Children's Zoo.

(Photo: Flori Van Essen)

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