When we think of wild animals we think of exotic animals like lions cheetahs, bears, eagles, and the likes, but in fact, the name wildlife has to do with any animal that is undomesticated and lives in an area that is not introduced to humans.

All animals come from the wild, but because we’ve domesticated some, we forget that all come from the wild, including chickens. We know where other wild animals live but where do chickens live in the wild?

Chickens in the wild live in certain parts of Asia, Bermuda, Florida, and Kauai. More specifically, these little animals tend to live in areas like the jungle. They prefer areas with the least amount of predators and good amounts of food.

Where do chickens live in the wild? 4 places where wild chickens live

While we all know that chickens haven’t always been domesticated birds, they’ve been domesticated for so long that it’s almost unimaginable to think of them as not being domesticated.

Yet, there are still locations where chickens roam free weather in the wild or in urban locations with no one raising them, these include: 

South and Southeast Asia:

The types of wild chickens that live in Asia include the red jungle fowl, also called the gallus gallus. They are tropical birds that live in different parts of South and Southeast Asia.

They are particularly attracted to disturbed habitats, whether natural or man made, the habitats that they are attracted to include areas burned to promote bamboo growth. They enjoy these areas because this gives these animals access to bamboo seeds for food. 

Bermuda:

Bermuda has quite a large population of feral chickens, the chickens that populate Bermuda are the once domestic chicken, the gallus domesticus. 

Bermuda has such a large feral chicken population that they have become a major threat to agricultural lands and parks. It is estimated that the population of feral chickens in Bermuda is 20 000 to 25 000.

These chickens live off of crops but because of this, they have become a nuisance. These birds have been allowed to overpopulate because there are no significant feral chicken predators in the area

 

Kauai:

The feral chickens that live in Kauai are a genetic blend of the jungle fowl, a variety of domestic birds as well as fighting birds. However, these birds still look like jungle fowl.

These birds will not only be found in the wild but roam around in urban areas like shopping center parking lots as well.

Kauai’s wild chickens can be found roaming all of Hawaii’s islands. They are especially present in Kauai because there are no predators like mongooses, to keep their populations in check 

Florida:

A boom in the chicken population of Florida is said to have happened when cockfighting became illegal. This caused people who owned chickens to stop keeping backyard chickens and release them.

The species of chicken that can be found in this area is the Key West chicken. They are protected and this makes them illegal to kill in the name of population control. 

Wild chicken habitats: 

You can generally find wild chickens in the jungle where they thrive. Even though wild chickens are very colorful, which can attract predators, they are still able to survive in the wild.

When in the wild, chickens prefer areas with minimal predators and where the food supply is adequate. This is why they prefer Kauai and Bermuda.

Can domesticated chickens survive in the wild?

The chickens that we all know are man-bred animals that will only enter the wild if they are allowed to run free or if they escape.

Domesticated chickens that stray into the wild often have a hard time adjusting. Domesticated chickens are used to being fed, protected from natural predators, having an accessible water supply, having a roost and places to sleep, as well as receiving medication to keep them healthy.

This isn’t the case in the wild. Wild chickens have evolved to have a heightened sense of alert to predators and some amount of awareness of where not to go.

Domesticated chickens would have to learn this the hard way through trial and error. Because of this, domesticated stray chickens entering the wild often return or end up on someone else farm or worse, die or become prey. Only a few will manage to survive and adapt to the wild.

Can wild chickens be tamed?

All domesticated chickens are the descendants of chickens that were once wild, so yes it’s possible to tame a wild chicken.

That being said, wild chickens aren’t friendly to anything that they consider to be a predator. A wild chicken won’t respond in a positive way to you walking up to it to catch it in order to tame it. They will run away or lash out with their spurs, wings, and beak.

It would take a long time and repeated efforts to tame a wild chicken.

Can chickens exist without humans?

Chickens in the wild can and do exist without the need of humans to tend to them, breed, farm, or care for them. Domesticated chickens on the other hand won’t do as well without human intervention.

Domesticated chickens have been bred to be accustomed to living with humans. If they were to be thrown out into the wild, with no human care, this could lead to their death

How long does a wild chicken live?

Wild chickens, that live in the countrysides, generally live for several years on average as long as they can steer clear of predators and diseases. Domesticated chickens that stumble off into the wild do not experience such luck.

A factory-farmed chicken has a short life expectancy. Factory farmed chickens are bred to be food or producers of food. These chickens are bred to be eaten by humans and only live for 42 weeks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, chickens live in areas that do not have many natural predators like Kauai and Bermuda, Asia, and Florida. They also live in areas that offer ample supplies of food. 

They can be seen roaming around the jungle where they thrive. Domesticated chickens will not be able to survive in the wild and wild chickens are not easily tamed. Domesticated chickens can’t live without humans but they will only live for 42 weeks in human care on farms.

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other chicken related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Cracked corn vs whole corn for chickens, which is best? Do chickens eat maggots? How do farmers know if a chicken egg is fertilized? Frozen corn for chickens, beneficial or not?