Re: why do chickens have tails and what are they for?

Hi Caitlin:

As well as the peacock’s tail, which is a pretty spectaular example of sexual selection, bird’s tails are also important for maintaining control while flying (see here for more).

Chickens are domesticated, but are thought to be descended from a member of the Pheasant family, Phasianidae, which falls within the order Galliformes. Several members of the Galliformes (turkeys and grouse, for instance) are not particularly good flyers, and appear to use their wings for short hops from the ground to trees. Chickens have a similar flying ability, and presumably use their tail feathers to help steer while they are flying. My own “experiments” on my grandfather’s chickens as a not-very-chicken-friendly young boy confirm this - when I threw them up in the air they were able to fly a short distance, and had a bit of manouverability, in part from their tails.

I hope that helps!
Rob Campbell, MAD Scientist (....but no longer a chicken "researcher")