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About the Behaviour of Chickens
Chickens are social birds that live in flocks, where they establish a pecking order to determine food access and nesting locations. When new chickens are introduced, it can lead to fights and injuries. They may also band together to defend against predators. Chickens communicate through various vocalizations, including clucking to find food and issuing warning calls for predators. Roosters crow to establish territory and compete in crowing contests.
During courtship, roosters may perform a circle dance to attract hens. Mating involves specific steps, including mounting and tail bending. Hens often share nests and prefer certain laying locations. Some hens go broody, incubating a clutch of eggs, while others rarely do. Chickens hatch after about 21 days of incubation, and the mother hen cares for them by keeping them warm and leading them to food and water. Reproduction in chickens involves cloacal contact, and hormonal changes control the process.
Chicken embryos are studied in research, offering insights into embryology. The chicken genome has been sequenced, containing a substantial number of genes. Chickens from high-altitude regions have physiological adaptations for better hatching in low-oxygen environments. Certain genes, like pinopsins, were discovered in chickens, and artificial immunity against bacterial pathogens has been induced in chicks using tailored oligodeoxynucleotides.
