Known Creature Details
Csirkatrice
Pronounced: Cheer-ka-triss
Female: Hen | Male: Rooster Baby: Chickling
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Csirkatrice, alternately called Csirke, are a domesticated variety of livestock that can be found in settlements. They’re used for their eggs and meat, but are often considered excellent for gardens, as they eat insects and weeds. They have a fairly lax temperament, bred into them through selective breeding, making them more docile than their wild counterparts. They are also smaller in stature than their wild counterparts, being between two and three times smaller in size.
Breeding
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Csirkatrice can produce eggs and normally lay clutches between 3-7 eggs at a time. Their eggs are white with brown speckling, sizable with tough shells. Mother Csirkatrice often aid their chicklings by pecking the shells to make it easier for the infants. Mother Csirkatrice sit on their clutches for 20-25 days, after which time they chicklings may start to hatch. Nests are usually made of feathers and grass, but they’re capable of nesting anywhere they see fit. Male Csirkatrice stay with the mother and nest during brooding, protecting both, as Csirkatrice mate for life.
Patterns and Plumage
The males are usually vibrant reds, yellows and oranges. Females tend to have duller colours and chicklings are always browns. As they grow up, the chicklings will start to display the colours of either male or female Csirkatrice. Selective breeding has standardized their markings in order to make them easily recognizable. Their feathers are incredibly soft and keep the Csirkatrice warm regardless of weather. They can live in a variety of climates as they are very hardy.
Diet
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Csirkatrice are omnivores, but their main diet consists of seeds, grains, a variety of vegetation and insects. They’re usually fed from troughs by their owners, but they also scavenge and graze if they’re free-range. They can go long periods of time without needing to drink water. They are incredibly easy creatures to manage and care for.
Abilities and Skills
Csirkatrice are thought to have some very diluted relation to dragons as they are able to breathe fire. They can also fly short distances, but tend to favour running rather than flight. They have long and sharp talons which they are known to attack with. They use their speed and size to both hunt and fight. Domestic Csirkatrice are not nearly as aggressive as their wild counterparts.
Xaaidan Csirkatrice
On the island of Xaaida there exists a unique variation of Csirkatrice exclusive to the island. These Csirkatrice are very similar to the familiar white and red Csirkatrice of the mainland with a few key differences. Xaaidan Csirkatrice mainly live in the wild but some are kept by the isle villages.
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The Xaaidan Csirkatrice are smaller than those found on the mainland, with a male of the Xaaidan Csirkatrice being at max shoulder height of a female of the mainland Csirkatrice. Their feathers are also much less vibrant, instead coming in shades of brown and dark reds.
Xaaidan Csirkatrice also lay smaller eggs than mainland Csirkatrice that are darker in color.
The Xaaidan Csirkatrice, instead of breathing flames, shoot out much smaller fireballs that produce a lot of smoke, allowing the small birds to easily get away in the smog. Aside from these differences, the two types of Csirkatrice are the same otherwise, with similar flight abilities, diet, temperament, and nesting and laying habits.