| The development of identifiable
domestic breeds is actually quite recent and seems to correspond
the breakdown of traditional class structure in humans.
In the late 1800s breeds in animals like dogs were "designed"
possibly as a way to try and create a stable and hierarchical
social system which the owners of the animals could identify
with.
As a way of pointing out breeds in domestic animals are
quite often designed to represent facets of human desire
I decided to create a breed of my own.
Chickens were chosen for several specific reasons:
1. Chickens hatch from eggs so there is complete authorship
of the "creation";
2. Chickens have an amazing array of genetic possibilities;
they possess many types of physical variations with which
to work with;
3.Bantams are "miniature" chickens used for "decoration
and for exhibition"...
This makes pefect sense as choice of art material.
The goal or function: to make the perfect "pet chicken":
the designer pet of the 90's, the way that miniature horses
were in the 70's and potbelly pigs were in the 80's.
Each parent or breeding stock was selected for some paricular
feature that would be incorporated into the final bird.
Unfortunately some of the most amazing features were recessive
traits that were quickly lost when bred with a bird with
conflicting genes. The White Crested Black Polish was chosen
for its magnificent white hairdo, and the Silver Seabright
for its delicate stature and finely flecked feathers. The
offspring of these two birds however was a largish ungainly
black chick with a funny Mohawk. A Black Silkie Bantam was
selected for its beautiful fuzzy "fur" and the
Light Brahma for its nice variations in feather patterns.
Even after it was fully grown their offspring maintained
all black, patchy fur-feather coats.
back to
breeding |
