Science Fiction, again. Why Should Your Favorite Breed Go to Space?

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
Nope, not higher maintenance at all. And d'Uccles can move a LOT of dirt and leaves with those feathery snowshoe feet of theirs. Mine would rather free-range than eat feed, and I go through a lot less feed in their pens when I let them out regularly.
Also, they love leftovers from the dinner table. My d'Uccles are not picky eaters. But they will beat the big hens up if I have bread in my hands LOL.

 

[Chickndaddy]

I agree that bantams should be brought. They are not just lawn ornaments. They are smaller, so you can have more in an area, they eat less feed, although their eggs are smaller. Most bantams make good broodies although on a newly colonized planet you would want to keep them broken up to lay as many eggs for artificial hatching as possible. Even if you don't bring them in cold sleep, you could bring ova or embryos.

As far as favorite breeds, I personally think Javas would be a good choice. They have many good traits:


http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustaina … Brink.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(chicken)

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Java/JavaHomestead.html

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustaina … ckens.aspx

http://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_events/blackjavas/javas.html

http://www.uwlax.edu/native/valleyfarm.htm

http://highgroundfarm.blogspot.com/2007 … javas.html

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/2/2-4/Michael_Dougherty.html

http://www.dawnlandfarm.com/javachickens.html

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Java/BRKJava.html

The wikipedia link is acting silly. Just copy and paste it into the browser. There is an _ between java and (chicken). Not sure why it didn't take the whole thing as the address.

Of course I have an issue 'picking' anything so chances are as many breeds as I could get my hands on would be making the one way trip to another planet. I would make sure that you have several different comb types not just single combed breeds as they don't do as well in cold weather.

 

[joletabey]

I vote Delawares!!! (duh. . . really?) From everything the experts here on BYC have said, they are personable, wonderful foragers, bold, big and good dual purpose birds. And they already have their white and black space suits on!

 

[3KillerBs]

Quote:
They will be doing just that -- taking hardy landraces from around the world.

But production traits are important too and its better to bring good genetics than to spend the next 50 years trying to create a bird big enough to roast for dinner so both will be going.

I have the story set up so that there will only be 2 ships -- First-in with 1000 men and the toughest, hardiest, lowest-input crops and animals. Followed later by families and the rest of the crops and livestock. After that, if they see a tramp trader once a year they'll throw a planetary holiday to celebrate.

Anne McCaffrey did a lot with on-the-fly genetic engineering in Dragonsdawn, but I prefer to restrict them to more traditional breeding. So any characteristics they don't bring with them won't be in the gene pool for later breeding up.

 

[SeramaLife]

Seramas are true bantams, and are the smallest bantam, so they can be kept in a small space.

 

[3KillerBs]

The Java information is very interesting. Their ticket is now reserved.

I am among those who have utterly fallen in love with the Delawares. I can't have chickens yet (trying to get the town to change), but they seem to be as close to perfect for what I want as perfection can get.

 

[Chickndaddy]

In addition to the mottled, black, and white Javas, they also come in an auburn color and at one time were blue as well.

 

[canada-goose]

Seramas should go because they are small and tame. Easier to bring some on a spaceship. They also lay fairly well for their size, go broody, and are meaty enough to eat if you can bear to do so.

 

[becky3086]

If it was me, I would take jungle fowl, some different game birds and barred rocks. I would see no point in taking bantams.

 

[tailsnfeathers]

Silkies, cause it sounds good. "Silkies in space!"