Poultry Anatomy & Physiology

You have probably noticed that chickens are built a little bit differently than us.  While they have most of the same basic body systems and functions, there are some unique features that are important to know about when caring for your birds.  In this section, we’ll briefly cover everything that chickens do to keep themselves alive.

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Sensing

Learn how chickens use their sense of vision, hearing, taste, and smell to navigate their environment.

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Protection

Learn more about what the different skin, feather, and nail structures are called and how they work to help your birds stay comfortable and safe.

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Respiration

Breathing is one of the most critical body functions in life, but what do you do when you don’t have a diaphragm?

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Circulation

Chickens have a heart that looks just like ours, but they are carrying something extra in their blood cells.

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Digestion & Excretion

Chickens are omnivores with a unique digestive and excretory system that allows them to eat a wide variety of foods.

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Movement

We may never know exactly why the chicken crossed the road, but we can tell you how it used its legs and wings to get to the other side.

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Reproduction & Egg Production

As well as making great companions, we love keeping chickens because of their body’s remarkable ability to make eggs.