Feathered Fun Facts
Chickens use this to clean and waterproof their feathers.
Preen oil
This part covers the chest and breast muscles.
Breast
This red, fleshy crest on top of a chicken’s head helps regulate temperature.
Comb
Feathers located at the end of the chicken’s body.
Tail Feathers
The upper leg area covered with feathers is called the ____.
Thigh
This part helps chickens keep their balance while walking and running.
Tail
These flat, feathered limbs are used for flight, balance, and protection.
Wings
These hang under the chicken’s beak and also help with temperature regulation.
Wattles
The opening through which eggs and waste pass.
Vent
The lower leg area covered in scales.
Shank
The small, soft feathers that keep chickens warm.
Down feathers
The upper middle section of the chicken’s body is called the ____.
Back
This hard, pointed structure is used to eat, drink, and groom feathers.
Beak
The large muscle area beneath the tail that connects to the back.
Rump
Chickens walk on these hard structures at the bottom of their feet.
Toes / Claws
Chickens spread oil on their feathers with their ____.
Beak
The area under the wing, connecting to the body, that helps control wing movement.
Shoulder
The soft area between the beak and eyes that can be feathered or bare.
Face
The oil gland at the base of the tail used for feather maintenance.
Uropygial (Preen) Gland
The joint that bends backward on a chicken’s leg.
Hock
True or False: A chicken’s comb can change color when it’s sick or stressed.
True
This large muscle area is commonly eaten as “white meat.”
Pectoral (Breast) Muscle
This fleshy part under the beak connects to the throat and aids in vocalization.
Throat or Dewlap
These long, curved feathers are found on a rooster’s tail.
Sickle Feathers
Roosters have these sharp, pointed growths on the back of their shanks.
Spurs