Freaking Silkies! How did these things survive before Backyard Chickening?!?!

[BaaKaaawk]

Look I know there are Silkie nuts out there- and good for you! But how in the holy world of chickens did these things survive in nature? I've had 5 silkies over 15 years and all 5 have been predated. Sure, it's probably my fault for letting them free range with the other birds- but that's on me and not the question. The question is how in the world can these things survive if they're not in a pen? Best I can tell, they have no proper defense mechanisms and can barely even see (again, I get it- I could trim the fuzz around their eyes) I'm talking about IN THE WILD??!

 

[DobieLover]

Look I know there are Silkie nuts out there- and good for you! But how in the holy world of chickens did these things survive in nature? I've had 5 silkies over 15 years and all 5 have been predated. Sure, it's probably my fault for letting them free range with the other birds- but that's on me and not the question. The question is how in the world can these things survive if they're not in a pen? Best I can tell, they have no proper defense mechanisms and can barely even see (again, I get it- I could trim the fuzz around their eyes) I'm talking about IN THE WILD??!

They were never in the wild. Man crossed a chicken with a Shitzu and made a Silkie.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[-Kiwi-]

Well, they aren't naturally in the wild... but I guess they would probably be predated too. They certainly are easy prey for a hungry predator.

 

[swampfox440]

They were never in the wild. Man crossed a chicken with a Shitzu and made a Silkie.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Well, they aren't naturally in the wild... but I guess they would probably be predated too. They certainly are easy prey for a hungry predator.

Ok, so they're like a created breed?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Ok, so they're like a created breed?

Every “type” of chicken other than junglefowl were selectively bred by humans to have the traits they possess.

 

[ColtHandorf]

But how in the holy world of chickens did these things survive in nature?

Silkies do not exist in "nature".

They were never in the wild. Man crossed a chicken with a Shitzu and made a Silkie.

Best thing I've read all day. That was amazing, thank you.

Ok, so they're like a created breed?

All breeds of domesticated chicken are "created". Junglefowl are the original "wild" chickens and still exist to this day in jungles. The following link about the history of the chicken might be of interest to you.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-chicken-conquered-the-world-87583657/

 

[BaaKaaawk]

All breeds of domesticated chicken are "created". Junglefowl are the original "wild" chickens and still exist to this day in jungles. The following link about the history of the chicken might be of interest to you.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-chicken-conquered-the-world-87583657/

Well that is helpful. Whoever created silkies should have added a bit more survival instincts then. Maybe have like bred in a little more doberman with that shitzu.

 

[RainbowHen]

Well that is helpful. Whoever created silkies should have added a bit more survival instincts then. Maybe have like bred in a little more doberman with that shitzu.

Just like many tiny breeds of dogs, Silkies are highly ornamental but mostly useless when it comes to surviving on their own. They were bred for containment, not for thriftiness.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Many breeds of chickens are ornamental; Polish, the long-tailed breeds like Phoenix and Yokohama come to mind. But then humans tend to do that with a lot of things. Just look at domesticated dogs for instance.

But I agree on the Silkies. I have one little goofball now that if I can find him some lady friends I'll be happy to keep. If not he'll find a home with someone who will love him. I much prefer my big English Orpingtons to the Silkies, but he has grown on me despite the fact that I always said I'd never have one. lol