Poultry Judging Practice Test

What is the ancestor of the domestic chicken?

1. Red Jungle Fowl

2. Wild Turkeys

3. African Goose

4. Indian Peafowl

The correct answer is: Red Jungle Fowl

The domestic chicken is primarily descended from the Red Jungle Fowl, which is native to Southeast Asia. This wild bird possesses many traits that have been selectively bred into domestic chickens, including feather color, size, and behavior. The domestication process occurred thousands of years ago, with early agricultural societies recognizing the Red Jungle Fowl for its meat and egg production. Understanding the connection between the domestic chicken and the Red Jungle Fowl is vital in poultry breeding and husbandry. The characteristics of the Red Jungle Fowl influence not only the physical attributes of the domestic chicken but also aspects like temperament and foraging habits. This ancestry provides insights into the genetic foundation of modern poultry breeds, thus impacting breeding decisions and practices in poultry farming. In contrast, other choices such as Wild Turkeys, African Geese, and Indian Peafowl are unrelated to chickens. They belong to entirely different species and genera, thus making them improbable ancestors of domestic chickens.