This breed is dumber than a doorknob...

[varidgerunner]

Institutionalism begins with genetics, There is a reason that "factory farms" and backyard chicken fanciers alike don't keep "real" chickens. They need the dumbed down versions. The big poultry houses need extremely dumb birds, laying in one little spot is desirable, otherwise the forces of hydraulic animal movement can lead to huge losses. If the bird is smaller than the others it is obviously defective in some way, this could include some brain impairment, say from circulation issues. Chickens can figure out how to be chickens just fine, if they are capable to begin with. The genetics that do well in a commercial setting are devoid of most natural instinct. Your bird will gradually figure out that she isn't in a cage, and she will move around more, but she will never be a real chicken capable of doing chicken things, like defend a home territory, hatch chicks, evade predators, pick out safe and sheltered roost sites and things like that.

 

[Brummie Pekin]

Its just what happens with chickens that live in these huge commercial farms they are so used to living in small spaces with barely enough space to breath or are force fed food to speed the growth for meat or eggs, that if they do make it out to the real world they are devoid of all natural chicken characteristics.

 

[varidgerunner]

Its just what happens with chickens that live in these huge commercial farms they are so used to living in small spaces with barely enough space to breath or are force fed food to speed the growth for meat or eggs, that if they do make it out to the real world they are devoid of all natural chicken characteristics.

Nope. Chicken farmers learned a long time ago that it is best to start with birds that have had all of their natural instincts removed with selective breeding. The vast majority of breeds we have today are a result of this process. The commercial favorites occupy the far end of this spectrum. Sure, a bird can be cage soured, but it can adapt once it is out of the cage. How long it takes to adapt to life outside the cage is in direct proportion to it's level of natural instinct, with your more natural chickens adapting almost immediately. The most natural chickens will not tolerate being confined in the first place.

 

[Brummie Pekin]

Nope. Chicken farmers learned a long time ago that it is best to start with birds that have had all of their natural instincts removed with selective breeding. The vast majority of breeds we have today are a result of this process. The commercial favorites occupy the far end of this spectrum. Sure, a bird can be cage soured, but it can adapt once it is out of the cage. How long it takes to adapt to life outside the cage is in direct proportion to it's level of natural instinct, with your more natural chickens adapting almost immediately. The most natural chickens will not tolerate being confined in the first place.

Yes that is why Im saying if they do make it out the farms they will struggle with what a natural chicken would do easily (Sleep in the correct areas, Lay in the correct areas and so on) yes some can adapt quicker than others and thats what chickens do, they adapt