Chicken

Living in a group

Like their wild relatives, domestic chickens thrive in groups where the hens outnumber the roosters. The hens incubate the eggs and do much of the care for the chicks. An important task for the roosters is to protect the group, and they sometimes engage in close combat with the approaching threats.

Loves to talk

Chickens make many different sounds. The hens usually announce loudly that they have laid eggs and the rooster's crowing is a sound that most people recognize. Hens can also use their calls to tell each other when a threat is approaching, where there's food available, when they want to be left alone, or when they are happy.

The old Swedish chicken breeds are under threat

In the past, there were many different breeds of chicken in Sweden, but they have been replaced by new, more productive breeds. Although the older breeds produce less eggs and meat, they also required less protein-rich and expensive feed. They were are also more hardy and resistant to disease. The more breeds with different traits, the better equipped we will be to meet the challenges of the future. Having more diverse breeds reduces the risk of serious diseases spreading or breeds going extinct if the environment changes. The survival of the old Swedish breeds today is largely due to active conservation efforts. Slottsskogen is taking part of this effort by keeping the Swedish Black Rooster and Orust chicken breeds.

The old Swedish chicken breeds are only found in Sweden

Chickens are domesticated in almost all parts of the world. Geographical differences and environmental variations have led to the development of many different breeds with different appearances and traits. Many different breeds have been developed, even just in Sweden.

Quick facts

Food: Grass, herbs, insects, chicken feed
Weight: 1–2 kg (the breeds in the park)
Height: Approximately 30 cm
Incubation period: 3 weeks
Young: Usually 1–10 chicks
Lifespan: Up to 15 years, rarely over 10 years