Comments on: Glimpsing the Future in Re-Wilded Chickens and Turkeys

By: Deb

Deb — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:06:59 +0000

The point pattrice is making in that statement, with regards to recovering genetic integrity, would refer to characteristics that have been unnaturally selected in chickens by the genetic manipulation performed by their exploiters. Left to their own devices (i.e., reproductive freedom) the characteristics that would be selected for in re-wilded chickens would be those that increase their chances for survival (hence, “recovering genetic integrity”).

I can go into the biology of this in more detail if you need, but this is really basic natural selection. It could even be more basic than that, if you consider that a White Leghorn hen (genetically manipulated by humans to produce unnatural number of eggs) and a non-White Leghorn rooster would have offspring whose egg-laying would likely not be at the insane levels of their mother.

Chickens don’t have to become some other species in order to live free and independent of humans; they just have to be left alone. I’m sorry I didn’t make that point more clear.

By: Lee Hall

Lee Hall — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:15:21 +0000

“Over time, they would recover the genetic integrity that our denial of their reproductive freedom had stolen from their species.”

I’m not persuaded by that assertion, without more, that this would be biologically possible. Dogs don’t return to being wolves nor do cows return to being aurochs. To my mind it seems best to ardently promote respect for animals who actually are free-living and independent today (and it seems urgent on an additional level when we note that some 40 percent of Earth’s living communities are at risk of extinction) and stop bringing domesticated animals into existence.

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:14:01 +0000

White Leghorns aren’t the only chickens who have been bred for excessive egg-laying (Rhode Island Reds are another), and it isn’t only white turkeys who have been bred to grow excessively large. I’m thinking the white ones are favored in the large operations because they’re easier to see in the dim and dirty conditions, but that’s just a guess.

By: Debby

Debby — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:36:13 +0000

The white hens you are so familiar with are a breed that was developed to have an almost constant egg laying capacity. But in truth, a jungle fowl would inevitably have a coloration that would enable it to blend somewhat with its environment. And if you happen to do a little research you will see that chickens have been no less manipulated than all of the other animal breeds, dogs springing immediately to mind. There are black chickens with white spots, white chickens with black spots, fluffy chickens that look like every childs idea of a cuddly stuffed toy, chickens that are really, really small and chickens that are huge. All at the hands of man and all for the purpose of finding birds that suit specific human requirements. Personally I love the idea of re-wilding “farm birds”.

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:11:14 +0000

They’re actually all domestic turkeys! They do look very close to wild turkeys, though I think there are probably differences we’d notice if we saw them side by side. Most of my glimpses of wild turkeys are of them darting quickly into the woods, so it is hard to compare.

I was thinking about this the other day, and wondering why the typical factory farmed turkeys and chickens are white. I’ll ask at the sanctuary this weekend and get back to you on that! Or maybe Marji will chime in (she works at a sanctuary).

By: Louche

Louche — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:02:41 +0000

Are all the animals in the photos above born wild? I’m just curious because whenever I see photos of “wild chickens” or “wild turkeys,” they are very dark/colorful, whereas all the ones in factory farms are white.

By: Change is afoot… « Invisible Voices

Change is afoot… « Invisible Voices — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:03:45 +0000

[...] Stephanie asked me and several others to join her, so I’ll be posting there too. In fact, I have a post up already! “Glimpsing the Future in Re-Wilded Chickens and Turkeys.” [...]