A new origin story for domesticated chickens starts in rice fields 3,500 years ago
Two studies lay out how the birds went from wild fowl in Southeast Asia to the dinner plate
![portrait of brown chicken with lots of head feathers](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/060622_bb_chicken-domestication_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Modern chickens originated around 3,500 years ago in Southeast Asia, later than previously thought, scientists say. Rice cultivation apparently spurred the transformation of wild fowl into a global menu item.
Robert May