Domestic Fowl
Chickens and Bantams, Gallus Domesticus are descended from the jungle fowl of Asia, Gallus Gallus, which still exists in the wild. They are social, ground living birds that scratch around under the jungle canopy foraging for seeds, insects and roots.
The domestic fowl defends itself against predators by staying in flocks, coupled with its fine hearing and of course its wings. These wings are not much good for flying but they do give it a turn of speed when it is on the run and enable it to get into the lower branches to roost.The term domestic fowl includes ducks and chickens and we have quite a number of common and not so common breeds of domestic fowl at the Centre all living happily together. For free information on the care and breeding of domestic fowl visit http://www.domesticfowl.co.uk/
Turkeys originate from North America and were domesticated by the Aztecs in Mexico 1500 years ago.
We associate domestic turkeys with their 'broad-breasted' appearance, slow and heavy, specifically bred for the table. In stark contrast the Wild Turkey is completely different, much slimmer and a wary, nervous bird which vanishes almost instantly when it detects even a potential threat.
Originally almost hunted to extinction by the end of the 19th century, wild caught birds which were reintroduced to the southern states of America in the 1930's and they gradually increased in numbers. European Travellers brought the Turkey to England and Europe from Mexico and it soon became a popular dish.
