this post was submitted on 23 May 2025
796 points (99.6% liked)
Science Memes
14973 readers
1588 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Chickens, cows, pigs, and sheep would be extinct if we had no use for them.
Actually not even close to true for chickens. The Red Junglefowl, the species that gave rise to the domesticated chicken, is classified as Least Concern. As is the Grey Junglefowl, the Sri Lankan Junglefowl, and the Green Junglefowl that contributed to the gene pool. If you're talking about Gallus gallus domesticus itself, then I think that gets a fair bit murkier as they never did survive on their own in the wild. However, with a population of 26.5 Billion in 2023, I think it would take a lot for them to go extinct, and it certainly wouldn't happen overnight. It really varies in my opinion. Obviously types* bred for meat consumption or cage eggs are going to struggle to survive on their own. But I have a Bantum hen that looks and acts like a Junglefowl, being able to clear fly over a 6ft tall person. She's able to nest up high for the night, and is near impossible to catch. I strongly believe she'd manage to survive in the wild quite easily.
I should have been clearer. If we didn't domesticate and have use for them then they would have been hunted to extinction long ago.
If we stopped eating eggs and eating chicken for some reason then the domestic chicken wouldn't be around anymore. They would kill off what is left in farms since they wouldn't make profit off them, then they would be gone.
See: the original penguin