The Red Jungle Fowl can be seen foraging for food near the edges of forests in South East Asia and some parts of East Asia. Its food consists of seeds from wild grasses, small fruits, tender shoots, invertebrates and various insects. The nest is built on concealed ground with luxuriant vegetation, slight depression and laid with fallen leaves and wild grasses.
The important role that the Red Jungle Fowl plays in the ecology of its surrounding environment should not be underestimated. It fills an important niche by controlling the population of bugs at ground level. The bird's droppings are a rich source of organic fertilizer.
Common consensus seems to accept that the Red Jungle Fowl is the ancestor of the domestic chicken. It has been described as a near-living dinosaur that is the subject of much scientific interest. The bird belongs to the family of Phasianidae, which includes partridge and pheasant. Domestication started in present day Thailand and Vietnam. Most likely, domestication began with the use of the bird for religious ceremonies, followed by cockfighting and eventually poultry as a source of food. Whether in the wild or domesticated, the bird never fail to arouse deep emotional response from man.
In spite of being outlawed, long held traditions of cockfighting in many cultures refuse to die out. Secret matches are stlll held, with money changing hands at the outcome of the match. Even up to this day, debate is still going on whether the bird should be allowed to roam freely or cooped up and how
densely the birds be squeezed in the cage...
Try thinking about these issues next time you chew on chicken bones!
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