Are Chickens Mammals?

Chickens are not mammals. They are birds. They have feathers as opposed to hair or fur, and they have wings, even though they don’t fly very well. They lack the teeth that most mammals have and they exclusively lay eggs, rather than giving birth to live young. Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) belong to the order Galliformes, which includes chickens, turkeys, and quail. So, why would anyone think that a chicken is a mammal?

Why Would People Think Chickens Are Mammals?

People may think of chickens as mammals because they are often found on farms with other livestock such as cows, horses, pigs, and sheep, which are all mammals. Some people eat the meat of chickens, which they might lump in with beef and pork, byproducts of mammals. Chickens are warm-blooded creatures that breathe air, possess vertebrae, and have some other mammal qualities.