Scientists at Hokkaido University have discovered the earliest evidence of chicken breeding in Japan. Research published in the journal Frontiers in Earth Sciences.
Chickens and their wild relatives belong to the pheasant family of birds, which includes pheasants, turkeys, and quails. Young pheasant bones have occasionally been found in Japan, but they could not be unequivocally identified as chickens. In the new study, the researchers identified brood bones that indicate chick rearing has occurred.
The scientists confirmed that both bones belonged to chickens by analyzing collagen molecules using mass spectrometry. Chicken farmers lived in the Yayoi period from 381-204 BC. At that time the site where the bones were found had the status of an important trading post – perhaps chickens spread from there to Japan and other Asian countries.
The chicken is one of the most common pets and currently has a population of over 33 billion. It is believed that chickens were domesticated about 3500 years ago in Southeast Asia and then taken around the world.