External Anatomy of Chicken

The external anatomy of chicken can be described according to the diagram below:

Diagram 1: Parts of an adult male chicken and adult female chicken

Basic external anatomy of chicken include the comb, beak, wattles, ears, earlobes, eyes,

eye rings, wings, tail, thighs, hocks, shanks, claws and toes. Diagram 1 show that both

the female and male chicken has all this basic criteria. The differences between both

male and female chicken includes the size of the comb and wattles, size of the spurs and

the characteristic of the hackle and cape feathers. For male the hackle and cape feathers

have pointed ends while for the female it has rounder ends. Male also have sickle

feathers in their tails and hackle feathers on their back while the female does not have it.

Chicken beak function as it mouth, fighting, protection and teeth. Comb and wattles will

help to cool the chicken blood circulation. The eyeball is stationary thus a chicken must

move its head to vary the range of vision. Feathers will provide insulation and buffer

extremes heat and cold. Chicken cannot fly very well, they can flap they wings to raise

themselves. Tail is used for balance while walking and in flying as a rudder for up and

down and side to side motion. The feet and claws are used for walking, fighting and

finding food.

The chicken wing has several flight feathers. The axial feather separates the primary

feathers and secondary feathers.

Diagram 2: The primary and axial feathers of an adult chicken.

The upper part the chicken leg is attached to the body of the bird. It will ends at the

lower leg that is the drumstick. Thigh is connected to the shanks at the hooks joint.

Chicken walk and stand using their toes.

Diagram 3: Legs of female (Left) and male (right) chicken

Chicken head consist of several parts. The most prominent one is the comb. The comb

and wattles are red, soft and warm. Chicken do not have external ears. The ears is just

the opening into the ear canal and protected by the feathers. Ear lobe is a specialized

skin located below the ear. Color depeend on chicken breed. The eyeball is covered by

the eye ring.

 

Diagram 4: Roster head parts