A question of ethics/conscience.

[redhen]

I dunno..my little silkie i had had a huge crest and she never starved to death..

I just made her food and water easily available for her. She ate and drank just fine..
They are not wild chickens that have to survive in the wilderness..they are domestic.
And so i feel that if you choose to own this breed you need to be responsible and really know what they require for care and what problems to watch out for. (i.e. make their feed and water VERY easy for them to find.)

As for the vaulted head issue...well..thats another story...i do feel bad when some of the birds have problems from it.

 

[Krys109uk]

I dunno..my little silkie i had had a huge crest and she never starved to death..

I expect very few hugely crested birds, for whatever reason, do not have as much trouble a one might think (I have also had crested breeds which have defied logic by finding their food when they don't appear to be able to see).

I think this is not really the issue, but rather more whether it is morally right to keep animals which might lead impeded lifestyles, due people breeding them to extremes. I think like Amazondoc said, they are not actually living in the wild, but even so some traits would seem rather inconvenient or uncomfortable for the animal & in some cases even dangerous. (I can't see that there is any reason why cochins would have reduced fertility).​

 

[ChickenWisperer]

I think there is a line everyone must draw.

First, I think you have to look at it from a view much like this - We, humans, domesticated the bird. Therefore, the bird is not wild, and it has depended on humans for how ever many years that chickens have been domesticated. So, the bird will not (or should not, according to most bird owners) be left to fend completely for itself, without any sort of human intervention (feeding it, setting out water, providing shelter, any treats, etc). And so, we are responsible for these birds.

But, then, I think you should add some morals/ethics into the mix.

Is it really necessary to breed a bird that cannot even live a normal life (pain free, can eat on its own, etc)? And if you do, are you being a responsible breeder?

My answers to those questions would be - No, and no. But that is me..... I dont think its ethical to breed a bird that cant live a good life, and can't really be a chicken. If you can alter its life painlessly, then sure. If you are willing to spend extra hours to care for a bird that has a special quality that alters its life (like silkies, polish, longtails, etc)? And if you do, isn't your responsiblility to make sure none of those animals fall into the wrong hands of an irresponsible owner (to the best of your ability?) As for temperment, I can't see a way that it would be bad to breed for more non-aggressive and likewise qualities - because the chicken is domesticated. It would be in the best interest of a chicken to have a better temperment, as more would be kept as pets and for eggs, it would seem.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

Is my silkies BRAIN SHOWING?!?

 

[ArizonaNessa]

No your silkies brains are not sticking out. It's a vaulted skull not skin draped over a brain. Don't worry. Bad breeding practices can cause nasty things to happen to all creatures not just chickens but as long as the breeder is maintaining healthy breeding practices and not doing things such as mass interbreeding then all should go well and result in healthy chicks with no malformations. This is my understanding.

 

[greathorse]

I personally dont think it is an ethic's issue, it is strictly a personal choice issue. I would not own a bird or dog that doesnt have a chance of reproducing itself without human intervention, but that is just my choice. If a person desires to take care of the stock that is bred to be something that requires this kind of attention I think that is up to the individual.

That being said I had a rooster that was blind as a bat. I ultimately culled him because of course he couldnt be bred, but he got along just fine. As a matter of fact he was probably 12 weeks old before I truly concluded that he was blind.

I find it a bit odd that the silkie couldnt figure out how to eat and drink with poor eyesight.

Good luck and do what you think is right for you.

Silkie's really arent chickens anyway are they???? Just kidding!! I dont really care for them but that is just my opinion lots of people really enjoy them

Speaking of Bulldogs. Ex has a English Bulldog, I rather enjoyed the poor thing but Lord breathing, gassing, virtually all are taken C-section- AI usually required, males could have a heart attack doing the deed. Whew what a life. By the way if you are a Bulldog expert and Csection and AI are not true, that is fine it is just what the breeder told us about the girl we got from her.

Didnt seem like the right thing to me.

 

[Krys109uk]

Is my silkies BRAIN SHOWING?!?

Vaulted skull is Cerebral hernia. From Poultry Breeding & Genetics (Crawford) Elsevier Science.
".......the underlying cause of the hernia was an accumulation of fluid in the third & fourth ventricles of the brain, thus causing an upthrusting of the cerebral hemispheres & the overlying frontal bones."​

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
Not vaulted:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/racuda00/baby-silkies.jpg

Vaulted:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/racuda00/IMG_0785.jpg

Thank you for the pictures. I did not know that was a vaulted skull. I honestly thought it was just poofier feathers! I guess I have some with vaulted skulls. They act normal though.

 

[schellie69]

I agree with the other posts that it comes down to a person's own beliefs but I also think you need to do your homework before you get into breeding a certain type of anything weather its dogs, cats, chickens, snakes, whatever do your own research find a top of the line breeder and talk to them don't go to a puppy mill where the dogs are kept in small cages and breed until they can't anymore (sorry rescued a puppy mill older female took her a year to come out from under stuff had to redo my living room so she could go under the tables and stay behind the couch she lived to be 18 years old she was loved the last 10 years of her life,) so be careful there are these types of breeders in any animal group just remember to do your own research and see if you have the time and money and energy that a certain type of animal will require, I think silkies are great and really would love to have a frizzle or sizzle but have not done enough research to know if I can take care of them like my other ladies. so just figure out what is right for you and what you can live with and then go from there and do your very best.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I bought my silkies for broodies. They are some of the friendliest chickens I have. They don't get bullied really, but then they have been in with the big boys and girls since they were 6 weeks old.
I incorporate early and give everyone places to hide until they adapt and so far everyone gets along. For the most part. There is a pecking order.
My silkies roost too. I had read that they won't, but mine like the top rungs.

They are young yet and perhaps their crests will get fuller and cause issues. I do plan on having them in their own coop as adults.

I think they are quite intelligent birds compared (sorry if I offend) Polish Crested which I find to be very flighty and stupid birds. My silkies vault hasn't seemed to affect their ability to fend for themselves.
In fact the little cuckoos just push their way where ever they want to go and they are quick to step out of the way of an irritated older bird.