Friday, August 17, 2012

Rare Chickens

Chickens, like dogs, have almost endless potential for genetic combinations. There used to be dozens of different "fancy" breeds of chickens. Several breeds have become extinct during the late twentieth century.

Does it matter? Aren't chickens about the dumbest of all birds? They are and they're not. Most factory farms raise birds that have been selectively bred, if not genetically modified, for traits that are dysfunctional to free-range animals and thus presuppose stupidity. Chickens like the ones in Lauredhel's photos aren't exactly university material, but they are conscious and social enough to be entertaining pets; most can learn to recognize their humans and obey simple commands. Some chickens learn to do tricks. Some chickens even show affection toward their humans.

I've never kept any of these breeds as pets, nor personally known anyone who did, but knitters may recognize the Barred Plymouth Rock at the bottom of this page:

http://lauredhel.dreamwidth.org/692051.html

For some of Chellie Pingree's friends/neighbors/constituents, these chickens really did become cuddly--and tidy!--pets.

In my neighborhood, it's only fair to mention, Barred Plymouth Rocks were lumped together with other Plymouth Rocks, and raised mostly for the table. However they get their peculiar barred feathers from a different breed. In my neighborhood older people usually called Barred Plymouth Rocks "Dominicas." There are no purebred Dominica chickens any more, but apparently they were one of the brighter breeds; Barred Plymouth Rocks are much more likely to survive as free-range chickens than White Plymouth Rocks are.

No comments:

Post a Comment