Do Chickens Chew?

One of the basic questions that people asking when thinking about raising poultry is whether or not these types of birds chew. 

Chickens do not chew. In fact, chickens do not have teeth. When a chicken picks up food, it is sucked down using one's tongue as it enters down the esophagus into the crop - a bulge area in the esophagus. Once it reaches the crop, it is moved to the stomach region where digestion starts to begin. Chicken digestion takes place in the gizzard region where the food is now able to be broken down.

Why are we telling you all of this? Because after bringing home backyard chickens to farms and pastures,a chicken owner may decide to buy chicken fencing. Because chickens can't chew, it would be assumed that a plastic fence will do just fine; but that is not the case because chickens have to worry about wildlife attacks from wolves, coyotes and foxes - among others. Therefore, it's best to go with a chicken wire fence that will protect chickens from the inside: A Steel Hexagon Fence with PVC-coating. Surprisingly, chickens can only fly short distances due to their size; and they can easily cross over a 4 foot high fence, if motivated. It's best to install poultry fencing that is at least 6 feet high to block short flights.