Raising Murder-birds

[ysabetwordsmith]

Apparently some genius domesticated cassowaries in the past.  I'm going to bet that was one person who knew the trick of imprinting and taught other folks how to use it, rather than multiple people deciding that a murderous bird was a dandy candidate for a farm animal.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Well, we domesticated wolves...and aurochs... and reindeer...

Apparently some people still keep chicks as pets, and the feathers are valuable. Given that they only breed a few months a year, perhaps they were kept more as guard or meat animals, that could also produce feathers and occasionally eggs, rather than mainly for eggs as with chickens?

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Apparently some people still keep chicks as pets, and the feathers are valuable. <<

More valuable in some contexts than others. Aside from the cultural aspects, feathers that are good for tying flies can greatly increase food supply.

>> Given that they only breed a few months a year,<<

Bear in mind that it took a long time to breed chicken to their now near-daily laying. Even 50 years ago, it was a lot more erratic. Until recently, most chicken breeds were "dual-purpose" meaning for eggs and meat both. (Plus a few triple-purpose or other dual-purpose breeds that were really designed for feathers, or mousing, or something else obscure.) So frequent laying is a perk, not a necessity.

>> perhaps they were kept more as guard or meat animals, that could also produce feathers and occasionally eggs, rather than mainly for eggs as with chickens? <<

I would bet on meat, with feathers and eggs as periodic benefits. But unlike most other livestock, cassowaries are really fucking dangerous and also extremely territorial. They would make guard animals as devastating as wolves.

I'm charmed by the cassowary find because, in Torn World, I designed an avian ecosystem where the people had giant, lethal birds as cavalry mounts and big slow birds as draft animals.

Re: Thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

I've heard of people keeping guard geese. I wonder if a domesticated cassowary would protect human 'chicks' like pet dogs and cats do.

I did not know that about chickens/eggs...though it makes sense given what I know about historical effects of selective breeding.

Also, feathers may make good fletching materials. (And if fancy may be traded for other cool swag.)

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I've heard of people keeping guard geese. <<

Geese absolutely work as guard animals. They are alert, noisy, and some of them are damn aggressive. A large goose can wing-buffet hard enough to break bone.

>> I wonder if a domesticated cassowary would protect human 'chicks' like pet dogs and cats do. <<

If it identifies as human, then likely so.

>>I did not know that about chickens/eggs...though it makes sense given what I know about historical effects of selective breeding.<<

They date back about 8,000 years. Possibly they were domesticated for sport and ritual purposes before food. Can you imagine cassowary fights? Holy hell. O_O Egg production in chickens has increased greatly in the last century. This has its ups and downs.

There is no "perfect" chicken because each breed has its own strengths and weaknesses; one suited to commercial egg-laying may be useless on a small farm. Look at my poems that feature someone's chicken flock and you will see different examples chosen to suit that specific location and type of farm.

"Hens and Flowers"
https://ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com/2366438.html

"Sacrificed Part of Himself"
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/11135524.html
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/11135979.html

"The Little Shadow Across the Grass"
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/13031701.html
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/13032694.html

"Often the Beginning of Great Enterprises"
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/12538869.html
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/12538869.html

Animals in the Aftermath
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/12854767.html

Here are some comparisons:
http://www.backyardpoultry.com/wiki/index.php/Chicken_Breeds_Chart
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/chicken-breeds/
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/chicken-breeds/

Re: Thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

>>Geese absolutely work as guard animals. They are alert, noisy, and some of them are damn aggressive. A large goose can wing-buffet hard enough to break bone.<<

I am reminded of a documentary which said that the Viking's security systems...were the fact that each house could be expected to have 20ish Vikings sleeping inside.

>>Egg production in chickens has increased greatly in the last century. This has its ups and downs.<<

I don't know specifically about chicken heritage breeds, but I've got smattering of knowledge about divergences between crops/livestock a couple hundred years ago vs today. (Uptime livestock were in high demand for crossbreeding in the Ring of Fire Series, because size.)

Reminds me of my mental puzzling over how society would be different if humans laid eggs instead of live birthing young. (Yeah, I have odd trains of thought sometimes.)

>>There is no "perfect" chicken because each breed has its own strengths and weaknesses; one suited to commercial egg-laying may be useless on a small farm.<<

I don't think there's ever been a perfect anything - cars, livestock, Prince Charmings. It all has to do with balancing your needs and finding the closest match to that.

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Perhaps the human was a pet?

I maintain that the wheat domesticated the people first and then the humans did it back. (Cats and humans tend to do this process concurrently.)

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Hybrid crops have convinced humans to do almost all the reproductive work. Corn is wholly dependent on humans, even if heritage, because the shucks prevent most of the seeds from sprouting and few other animals can peel them off.