When did the chicken become domesticated?

Close human contact of chickens only began about 3,500 years ago, and these birds were initially revered, according to archaeologists' findings. 
 Red grouse and modern chicken. Chicken is one of the most popular foods in the world today, with over a billion birds slaughtered annually in the UK alone. But the researchers say birds are actually a relatively new addition to our farms, in a new study.
It was previously believed that chickens were bred for food until 10,000 years ago, but the new report, published in the journal Antiquity, suggests that humans did not come into close contact with chickens until 1500 BC.