Why Do Chickens Not Fly?

Reasons why chickens don’t fly and fly high

The chicken is one of the domesticated birds that are raised all over the world, and the benefit of raising chicken stems from the use of its eggs, meat and feathers, and its scientific name: Gallus gallus, chicken has wings and thin feathers; Despite this, it is a bad bird and cannot fly like most birds.

Chicken wings are small

Among the most prominent characteristics that prevent chickens from flying is the latter’s possession of small wings that are inconsistent with the shape and weight of its body, and are unable to support or carry the weight of the chicken for long periods of time.

Chicken muscles are large and heavy

Chicken has large and heavy muscles, especially in the chest area. which reduces his chance of flying and rising in the air for high distances; In order to fly, a chicken or any other bird needs to have the ratio of its wing area to its body mass equal to 1 cm² to 2.5 g, while chicken has a smaller wing area and a larger mass.

Can chickens fly low?

Chickens can fly very low; For example, an adult chicken can fly over the fence of the house, which is one or two meters high in some cases, and it can land on the ground from a high place, such as the roof of a house or barn, without being injured. They are not like penguins and ostriches do not fly at all, but they are exposed to breaking their wings if they land from a high altitude and very quickly.

The longest flight distance of a chicken between cliffs was recorded, and it covered a distance of 92 m in 13 seconds.

The importance of chicken flying to low altitudes

Chickens fly to low altitudes in the form of flapping wings or by jumping, and this flight is important for chickens.

Avoid injuries and death

The chicken takes off and flies if a predator approaches it and if it senses any danger whatsoever, and most chickens take time and some steps to be able to fly a long distance, but some chicken breeds fly quickly (such as a vertical take-off plane), and in this way the chicken can reach a relatively high place or Covered to avoid injury and death.

Overcoming obstacles

Chickens climb any fence they encounter, that is, they fly to avoid obstacles, and often just out of curiosity; Because chickens are very curious birds and try to examine all the surrounding areas, just as chickens fly and bypass obstacles in crowded areas to provide the space they need to move around. Chickens overcome obstacles, like all birds and animals, with the aim of searching for vegetables and foods.

The best breeds of chickens for flying at low altitudes

Chickens fly for several purposes, and chickens that are raised at home loosely (that is, they take a lot of freedom) are considered the most species capable of flying, and in general the range of their low flight varies from one breed to another, and the low flight preference is for the following breeds:

Mediterranean strains

The most prominent species that fly at a low altitude of these breeds are: Andalusian chicken, Leghorn chicken, white French chicken, black Spanish chicken, Catalana chicken, and Bantam chicken, and these strains are able to fly low well because of the thinness of their bodies, and the strength of their wings that can lift their skinny body Easily.

hybrid strains

The most famous hybrid type that can fly low is the Red Star chicken, and this is due to its high skills in escaping and moving quickly.

other breeds

Several other breeds have the ability to fly short distances and low altitudes, such as: Fayoumi chicken, Gerhun chicken, Americana chicken, Laflesh chicken, Old English game chicken, and the flying skills of these strains gained from their ability to jump over trees with great skill.

Other bird species cannot fly and fly high

There are several other birds in nature that cannot fly and fly beside chickens, and the most prominent of these birds are:

penguin

The penguin is the most famous bird that does not fly, and this is a common feature in the eighteen subspecies of penguins, as well as it cannot fly a short distance like a chicken nor jump as well, the penguin has a stocky structure and short legs, and its wings are not designed for flight, and in fact the penguin is skilled in swimming, diving and movement inside the water Just.

ostriches

The ostrich is known for its large size and heavy weight. The adult male weighs about 136 kg, and the weight of its eggs is 1.35 kg. It is known that the ostrich is like a penguin that does not fly at all, and it is prevented from flying by its large weight that is inconsistent with its wings, but it is a strong wrestler who uses the power of his kicks in that, and he is a skilled runner, and runs At a speed of 72 km / h in open spaces.

Steam ducks

Steam ducks are classified as one of the four types of ducks that cannot fly, and these birds live in South America, and they have a great ability and tremendous speed in walking on water, but they do not fly because of their heavy weight that prevents them from taking off in the air, and steam ducks are characterized by their ferocity and aggression, It is known to kill other animals and birds many times its size.

Wicca

The wicca bird lives in New Zealand, and it is one of the historical symbols of the country, but this bird cannot fly because it has two short wings that cannot carry its full body, and what distinguishes these birds most is their ability to dodge and steal, along with their high skill in swimming.

kiwi

Another flightless bird living in New Zealand is the kiwi, due to its small wings covered with small hair-like feathers.

kakapo

The Kakapo parrot is classified as the strangest species of bird that lives in New Zealand. It has the face of an owl and walks like a duck. It cannot fly either because of its heavy weight compared to its bright green feather wings.

takahi

Takahi is known as one of the birds that live in New Zealand, and it is also known for its inability to fly because of its heavy weight. It was believed that this bird became extinct in 1948 AD, but it has reappeared.

cassava

The cassowary lives in Australia and the surrounding islands, and it is the second heaviest bird in the world after the ostrich, which causes it movement problems and prevents it from flying and flying.