ELI5 Why do so many ppl treat chickens expendable??

[z3lda3]

But the Lemon Owlbeards look just like the Bearded Lady from “The Greatest Showman”! You have to get one!

Also-one?? You must be confusing me with some normal person, I need at least 5! Or 20..

 

[tlcmurphy]

Also-one?? You must be confusing me with some normal person, I need at least 5! Or 20..

Sorry, I misspoke

 

[z3lda3]

Sorry, I misspoke

There’s a shirt I want it says:
I wanted 10 chickens, but if G-d wants me to have 20, then 40 it is!

 

[SourRoses]

I honestly really don't see anything really that special about these birds. They look pretty basic, semi-hard feathered chickens, but with long plumage.

I may just get a few to compare to my birds feathering, though.

You should get some to compare, that's a good idea! (enabling in progress)
The hackle and saddle feathers are much, much longer. They are also thinner and there's more of them. Try to count the feathers on Custard here, they were like hair. Really fun to run your hand through. The barring makes them blend together but if you start at the pointy end and run your eyes up it's more visible.

Some of the saddles touched the ground by the time I rehomed them. It takes a while to grow all that.

The fly tyers prize the way the feathers can bend without twisting. Most chicken feathers do twist, which makes it hard to tie a complex tiny thing.
They also have less barbicels on each feather. Not like silkies who don't have any, but the reduction in barbicels allows the filaments to spread apart and catch on the surface of the water, for flies that float rather than sinking.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You should get some to compare, that's a good idea! (enabling in progress)
The hackle and saddle feathers are much, much longer. They are also thinner and there's more of them. Try to count the feathers on Custard here, they were like hair. Really fun to run your hand through. The barring makes them blend together but if you start at the pointy end and run your eyes up it's more visible.

View attachment 3935714

Some of the saddles touched the ground by the time I rehomed them. It takes a while to grow all that.

The fly tyers prize the way the feathers can bend without twisting. Most chicken feathers do twist, which makes it hard to tie a complex tiny thing.
They also have less barbicels on each feather. Not like silkies who don't have any, but the reduction in barbicels allows the filaments to spread apart and catch on the surface of the water, for flies that float rather than sinking.

That's interesting. What breed is this bird?

 

[SourRoses]

That's interesting. What breed is this bird?

Genetic Hackle fowl.
I couldn't find much of a market for them here so that I could hatch enough chicks to make improvements... I did find a nice lady who wanted them for her kid to take to the fair, another guy who actually fly fished, and a couple who just thought they were cool.

But I kept a really nice hen who's 1/4 Am and lays green but has the feathering of the GHF, and a long tail, I have some of her mixed chicks on the ground and will breed them back until I get at least some of the length in hackles and saddles in my project breed (it's a complicate project, lol).

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Pretty cool, Roses!

 

[igorsMistress]

Did I read that correctly? You don’t try to save a sick bird?

Egg bound, crop issues, bumblefoot sure. Mites or lice? Absolutely. Other stuff, depends what it is. I do what prevention I can.

 

[MysteryChicken]

You should get some to compare, that's a good idea! (enabling in progress)
The hackle and saddle feathers are much, much longer. They are also thinner and there's more of them. Try to count the feathers on Custard here, they were like hair. Really fun to run your hand through. The barring makes them blend together but if you start at the pointy end and run your eyes up it's more visible.

View attachment 3935714

Some of the saddles touched the ground by the time I rehomed them. It takes a while to grow all that.

The fly tyers prize the way the feathers can bend without twisting. Most chicken feathers do twist, which makes it hard to tie a complex tiny thing.
They also have less barbicels on each feather. Not like silkies who don't have any, but the reduction in barbicels allows the filaments to spread apart and catch on the surface of the water, for flies that float rather than sinking.

Wouldn't really call that hair like though, they're slim, but that seems to be a common feature with long feathered chickens. The plumage looks very similar to that of my Heritage Plymouth Barred Rock Rooster I used to have, but had to put down. I'm keeping his pelt, once I can get the chance to skin him.

My black Sumatra roosters I used to have, had thin hackle, & saddle feathers just like the rooster you pictured, but none of the pictures I have aren't the best quality due to being from my older phone.

 

[Colorful egg carton]

I’m not wanting an argument I’m genuinely trying to understand. Why are chickens, especially roosters treated so expendable? (Not talking about broilers). I’ve seen and read so many ppl culling their chickens/unwanted roosters and throwing out the body with the garbage. Unwanted rooster, kill it, burn it or bury it. And just recently I read about a person who killed his roosters and used the body for bait. Can someone explain to me why this is acceptable? If it was a cat or dog it’d be cruelty to animals and illegal.

I really like my vet who helps me with my chickens....but every time I call to get an appointment (3 in 3 years), the person answering the phone says " Now they are just chickens...we are really busy and our appointments cost $65. I have to insist she ask the vet if I can have an appointment (yes), but when I am cranky, I wonder how it would go if I taped that conversation and inserted the word "dog" or "cat" for chicken and played it back to her...though 60 years ago, neither went to the vet...they were "just a barn cat" or just "farm dog" and easily replaced. Maybe this attitude about chix will change over time!
OK, but would that REALLY be a good idea? There are millions of badly behaved cats and dogs who today walk/ride around in shopping venues, grocery stores, restaurants and farmers markets (including my daughters' dog) because "they wanted to go"! Imagine if it was chicken on a leash! At least, their bathroom habits won't be any worse than some pets I have observed AND I rarely see a permanent injury from a chicken attack! My sister would say SHE does indeed have a permanent psychological injury from the old farm rooster that attacked her when she was 4...and it is true that I love when my chickens hear the back door close and come a running! She has never encouraged that behavior and only treats them early am while they are still in the run as it still freaks her out to see any chicken charging to her!
PS I realize it is my chix interest is mostly cupboard love, though it is clear Muffy and Eagle DO like my company for me....I wonder how much those stroller things are, hmmmm