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History through the eyes of a chicken - Chris A. Kniesly

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TEDEd Animation

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The Ancient Egyptian king Thutmose III described the chicken as a marvelous foreign bird that “gives birth daily.” Romans brought them on their military campaigns to foretell the success of future battles. Today, this bird occupies a much less honorable position – on dinner plates. Chris Kniesly explains the evolving role of chickens throughout history.

Although adaptations develop to help a species survive in its environment, some adaptations make an organism more useful to humans. One example is the rate at which chickens lay eggs. Considering their native rainforest habitat, can you think of another feature the modern chicken has which may have helped its ancestors survive?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Chris A. Kniesly
  • Director Mark Phillips
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Sound Designer Sam Bair
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Fact-Checker Francisco Diez

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