The chicken is a bird that is part of the group of galliformes.
Before delving fully into the meaning of the term chicken, let's know its etymological origin. In this case, we can emphasize that it is a word that derives from Latin, specifically from “hen”, which is what the female rooster is called (“gallus”).
A chicken is called a bird that is part of the order of galliformes species, characterized by its short and somewhat curved beak, its also short wings and its robust legs. The chickens, whose feathers are glossy, have a fleshy reddish crest.
The term is usually used as a synonym for rooster , although the male is generally called rooster and the female is called hen of the species whose scientific name is Gallus gallus domesticus . Comparing the two, the hen is smaller and has a smaller comb than the rooster.
The domestic hen
Of domestic chickens, it should be noted that they can be found in all corners of the world, that they fly very poorly unlike other birds, that they are animals that have a clear hierarchy between them and that have become a species that has come to form fundamental part of human nutrition. And they provide it with eggs and, in addition, they provide it with meat.
There are many breeds of chickens, which usually live between five and ten years. They are omnivorous animals that crow, emitting a sound similar to “cló-cló” . In the case of roosters (males), they also sing ( “quiquiriquí” ). On the other hand, the chicken has a limited flight capacity, although it is able to move to somewhat elevated places when in danger.
Human beings raise chickens to use their eggs and meat.
Use by humans
Chickens are usually raised by man to take advantage of their meat and eggs .
It is common for chickens to lay an egg a day for eight, nine or ten days. After laying, the bird is in charge of incubating it, giving it heat and rotating it until the moment of hatching (which occurs about twenty-one days after laying).
The blind man's hen
In the same way, we cannot ignore that there is a traditional game that has the word in question in its name. We are referring to blind man's goose , in which any players who wish can participate. It basically consists of one of the participants, blindfolded, trying to catch the others. And to do this you will have to make special use of senses such as hearing.
In fact, a painting by Francisco de Goya that represents the development of this game and is titled “The Blind Hen” is very famous. He painted it between 1788 and 1792, after Charles IV came to the throne, and he intended to decorate the princesses' room in the El Pardo Palace with it.
Synonym of coward
In a symbolic sense, the notion of chicken is used to describe a fearful or skittish individual.
For example : “Don't be a chicken and go claim what's yours!” , “Esteban is a good boy, but a bit chicken” , “When Pedro started yelling at him, Ramiro's chicken stayed silent” .