What body parts of hen use in getting food?

Hens use several body parts to obtain food. Here are the main body parts involved:

1. Beak: The beak is the most important body part used by hens for feeding. It is hard, pointed, and covered with a tough, horny material called keratin. Hens use their beaks to peck and scratch the ground, vegetation, and other surfaces to search for food.

2. Tongue: The tongue of a hen is small, fleshy, and covered in tiny, backward-pointing papillae (small, fleshy projections). These papillae help the hen to manipulate and swallow food.

3. Esophagus: The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. It carries the food swallowed by the hen from the beak to the crop.

4. Crop: The crop is a sac-like enlargement of the esophagus located on the hen's neck. It stores food temporarily, allowing the hen to continue foraging without having to stop and eat constantly.

5. Proventriculus (True Stomach): The proventriculus is the first part of the hen's true stomach. It contains glands that secrete gastric juices, which begin the process of breaking down the food.

6. Ventriculus (Gizzard): The ventriculus is the muscular second part of the hen's stomach. It contains small, hard stones or grit that the hen has swallowed. These stones help to grind and crush the food, further breaking it down into smaller particles.

7. Intestines: The intestines are a long, coiled tube that extends from the stomach to the cloaca. They are responsible for digesting and absorbing nutrients from the food.

8. Cloaca: The cloaca is the final part of the digestive system in hens. It is a common opening for the digestive, reproductive, and urinary tracts. Waste products, including undigested food, are expelled through the cloaca.