Worm Birds

Worm Birds

Genetic altered chicken (Earth ) specifically breed and raised to control Wine Wiggler infestations in Thauran wine yards.

The wine farmers of Blau raise their grapes according to age-old methods and utilize little in terms of technology in the actual production. They also do not use genetics, nanites or chemicals.

One of the greatest threads to a grape vine are the Wine Wigglers, a small thin worm. The pest gorges on the alien plant (Grape vines have been introduced to planet ecologies by the first Thauran colonists bringing them from Earth) and a Wine Wiggler infestation can destroy a vineyard overnight. The Grape vine plants are very expensive and often are the secret variety of a particular wine growers family.

The Wine growers on Blau try to control the worms in many ways for example by the special bred Chicken (Worm Birds).

Worm Birds appeared long before Thaurans became Union.

These flightless and wingless birds differ from Earth chicken as they are much larger (Turkey sized) and have no wings but a second pair of legs, the bird use to pick the worms from between the plant parts.

A Worm Bird can digest between 300 and 400 worms a day. Worm Birds are highly valued and a single bird can fetch upm to 100 credits.

Worm Birds live between 2-3 years and are valuable pest controls for about 80% of that time. Old birds are butchered for soup and several Tharan food items.

While Worm Birds  can be traded and occationally found on XChange lists, they rarely leave Thauran markets.