Because they ARE able to fly. Chickens can fly for short distances. References: Coming back to the initial question, yes chickens can fly. However, they are not very good at it. Unlike the wild hen, which can fly short distances, the domestic hen can barely lift off from the ground. Now, the forest fowls were like the Turkey and they depended mostly on their legs to run from predators. A: Chickens actually CAN fly! When chickens can’t walk properly, they are referred to as “lame,” but that doesn’t mean they’re not cool! Most chickens cannot fly very far. The wild chicken (Gallus ), a bird originally from India, China, and southwest Asia, is the closest ancestor we have domesticated for over 8,000 years. In the wild, they roost in trees, not on the ground. Oh, not all of them, but many breeds are. Modern chickens were bred from the Junglefowl. However, they can’t fly too high or too long. Tom R. 9 years ago. Modern chickens are bred as food or to produce eggs, so they do not have very large wings compared to their body. Why can’t chickens fly long distances? They adapted living on the ground and were surviving mostly using their legs. So, to recap, chickens are bad at flying because their direct ancestor was bad at flying, because they’re adapted for spending time on the ground. Can Chickens Actually Fly? Why your go-to-market strategy should be industry focused; Dec. 1, 2020. As for the suggestion, that’s definitely interesting. The world record for a … 0 0. Just as chickens don’t fly, there are other birds that can’t do it either, as is the case of ostriches that don’t fly but having such strong legs, they allow it to move at high speed. Chickens are not a natural species; they were created by breeding the red jungle fowl into a … Why Chickens Can’t Fly / Historical Anatomy. Where in the world have you only seen flightless chickens? It is purely a human creation. Chicken farmers will "pin" their wings to keep them under manageable control. It has been found that a long time ago, almost 4000 years ago; chickens were domesticated from the wild birds known as the ‘forest fowl’ found in India. As for how high they can fly, most will only be able to climb into trees around 10-15 feet high. Another example is the penguins, which, unable to fly, their wings evolved to be used as fins and thus swim underwater at high speed. To put it simply; it is a trait that has been bred out of them over the centuries. Chickens were domesticated from “jungle fowl” (wild birds in Asia). It can’t be found in the wild. Why Can T Chickens Fly. Ive owned chickens for years, and when there young they fly fine, they dont get all that high, but they can get up to head height and fly level for about 20 yards when they want to. Why Can’t Chickens Fly? Their small wings allow them to fly for only a moment or two. 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