Comments on: Lack of Genetic Diversity in Chicken Coops Could Worsen Bird Flu Outbreaks http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/11/04/lack-of-genetic-diversity-in-the-chicken-coop-could-worsen-bird-flu-outbreaks/ 80beats is DISCOVER's news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:53:31 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Cedar Hill Farm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/11/04/lack-of-genetic-diversity-in-the-chicken-coop-could-worsen-bird-flu-outbreaks/comment-page-1/#comment-25646 Cedar Hill Farm Fri, 01 May 2009 14:35:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/11/04/lack-of-genetic-diversity-in-the-chicken-coop-could-worsen-bird-flu-outbreaks/#comment-25646 Not sure its necessary to go outside the US for needed genetics. "Heritage" chickens are currently enjoying a resurgence in the US: as pets, as "Slow Food" sources, and backyard egg producers. Some of these breeds have retained foraging instincts, broodiness, hardiness to climate & disease, etc.--- all features missing in the "industrial" chicken. For more info, see "Mad City Chickens" (a documentary about Madison, Wis. backyard poultry), and the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (dedicated to preserving genetic diversity in all livestock, including poultry). Not sure its necessary to go outside the US for needed genetics. “Heritage” chickens are currently enjoying a resurgence in the US: as pets, as “Slow Food” sources, and backyard egg producers. Some of these breeds have retained foraging instincts, broodiness, hardiness to climate & disease, etc.— all features missing in the “industrial” chicken.

For more info, see “Mad City Chickens” (a documentary about Madison, Wis. backyard poultry), and the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (dedicated to preserving genetic diversity in all livestock, including poultry).

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