Evolution?

[darkmatter]

I started out with a mix of Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks, then blended in Easter Eggers and Austrulops and Jersey Giants. The Roosters that acted aggressive were selected for dinner/freezer. I got to noticing that the Roos with a solid black coloring with only a little neck frill reddish tinge were gentle "get-a-long-with" Roosters, I currently have 4 Roos, one older dominant Roo with the others as backup replacements. I've had older Roos die from heart attacks trying to keep up fertility duties competing with the yearling Roos (poor old guys--died happy, I guess). Anyway, since I been hatching my own eggs for years, I have lots of Roos to cull. So naturally I choose the disagreeable ones to dispatch. Just a unforeseen selection evolution that ended up with Roos with muted color appearance. They never attack me or the missus when tending to chicken chores or fight to the death or harass the hens and juveniles to the point of damage. (that did happen during the first few years of keeping/learning chickens). The mixed strain of Chickens I have now are gentle Roosters that call the hens over to eat first and will take food out of my hand to give to the hens. Maybe it's just me but new Roos with bright colors always seem aggressive to the point of fighting and damage with each other and the hens/juveniles. Domestic selection evolution?

 

[starforever61]

it's almost like "natural" selection! lol my grandpa in england could blab about this alllll day. that's pretty cool tho.