Unexpected Elements Chicken, with a side order of science
Dec 12, 2025
Join Jingmai O’Connor, an expert on the dinosaur–bird transition and Associate Curator of Fossil Reptiles at the Field Museum, as she unpacks the fascinating links between birds and their dinosaur ancestors. The discussion delves into how rice farming may have shaped chicken domestication and the chicken-or-egg paradox. Learn about innovative research revealing humans' surprising ability to understand chicken vocalizations. Plus, discover Brazil's rise as a poultry giant and what happens to chickens during tornadoes!
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Rice Farming Helped Domesticate Chickens
- Rice farming likely attracted wild jungle fowl and created conditions for gradual chicken domestication.
- Archaeological evidence from Thailand dated 3,250–3,750 years ago ties chicken domestication to rice agriculture.
How The Chicken Came First
- Genetic change from domestication is gradual, so pinpointing the first true chicken is impossible.
- Two nearly-chickens could produce an offspring we classify as the first chicken, so the chicken effectively came first.
Childhood Chicken Coop Memory
- Camilla recalls visiting her great-grandmother's chicken coop and watching the birds for hours.
- She notes common chicken sounds like cackling, clucking and the joyful call after laying an egg.
