Do you eat eggs? When you reach into the refrigerator at the local grocery store, have you ever stopped to think about where chickens originally came from?
Chickens were brought from South England on the ships that brought people to the new world. During the 1700s in Britain’s North American colonies, chickens thrived everywhere. They even appeared on plantations and middle-class farms, and in the streets of cities and towns to mention only a few places.
“Poultry was common in the eighteenth century. If you were poor and you had any livestock, you had chickens too. They were easy to raise. They reproduced in large numbers and reached sexual maturity early,” said Elaine Shirley, manager of Colonial Williamsburg’s rare breeds program. Four of the five breeds raised and exhibited at Colonial Williamsburg: Nankin, Frizzle, Polish, and Silkie. You can go to Colonial Williamsburg and take a look.The Colonial Williamsburg History museum in Williamsburg, Virginia.
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| Silkie |
North Americans might think the eighteenth-century chickens were available year-round. But because of the animal’s reproductive cycle in the eighteenth century, chicken was a seasonal treat. However, hens lay eggs year-round. They are most productive during the spring and summer, when increased daylight signals the best time for making chicks. Hatching during warm weather lets chicks grow strong and prepare for winter weather.
“Because of genetic work done with chickens, today, they grow fast. It takes about six weeks from hatching to arriving at your table. In the 1700s, that trip took more like six months,” Shirley said.
There is, as well, a difference in diet. Today, carefully controlled feedings boost growth. In the 1700s, chickens ate table scraps or had to scavenge. Still, the free-range, grass-fed chicken is still popular and can bring a higher price for the meat and the eggs. Egg can come in different colors. It depends on the type / breed of chicken laying them.
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| Cream legbar chicken eggs of many colors, blue too. |
My son raises cream legbar chickens on his farm. Hubby and I are lucky to have the eggs when they are needed.
I like to cook cheese and mushroom omelets. Do you make omelets? What kind? Please leave a comment below.
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| Cream legbar chicken |
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"If you love small towns, second chances, and real-to-life characters, the Sierra Creek Series is for you! It's the perfect feel-good read." NL reviews
Sierra Creek Series Book 4 My Country Heart by Reggi Allder ONCE BURNED ARE YOU TWICE SHY?
Two new residents are in the small town of Sierra Creek. They are at a crossroads. Each searches for answers to direct them toward their separate futures.
Chance Williams is the new fire chief. Recovering from an injury sustained in a disastrous fire, should he remain on the job in the small town or quit and go back to his Bay Area home?
A jewelry designer and a firefighter have little in common. Still, forced to live in close quarters, will sparks fly?
The engaging characters in the other Sierra Creek books return. See how Amy, Vanna, Sophie, and their partners are doing. Also, a mystery is an added ingredient in book 4.
https://www.amazon.com/Country-Heart-Sierra-Creek-Book-ebook/dp/B0BJ5L1K2V
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Country-Heart-Sierra-Creek-Book-ebook/dp/B0BJ5L1K2V
https://www.amazon.com.au/Country-Heart-Sierra-Creek-Book-ebook/dp/B0BJ5L1K2V
https://www.amazon.ca/Country-Heart-Sierra-Creek-Book-ebook/dp/B0BJ5L1K2V/
Excerpt of My Country Heart Sierra Creek Series book 4 by Reggi Allder
“Stop!”
Lauren slammed on the brakes so hard the seat belt jerked tight, preventing her from hitting her head on the steering wheel. The car came to an abrupt halt, inches from a handsome guy, tall, tan, and furious.
“What the hell are you doing driving so fast on this road?”
“I’m….” She screamed as clucking birds flew at her. Her heart thundered. She forced down the memory of her childhood fear of birds.
When fowl surrounded the car, she honked the BMW’s horn. The chickens flew closer and she continued to scream.
“Stop! The dammed chickens are already upset. Be quiet and stay out of the way until things are under control!” the stranger demanded.
A hen flew into the passenger seat. She shrieked and jumped out of the car and ran into the guy.
In tooled leather cowboy boots, blue jeans and a navy T-shirt he glanced at her. “You damn near ran me down.” He grabbed one of the birds off the hood of her convertible and let it go. Another flew at her and she shrieked.
“Quiet!” He snatched the bird away, holding it with one hand. “You’re alarming the poultry. They’re terrified. After all this yelling, it might take days before they lay again.” He glared and his blue eyes flashed as he brushed his dark brown hair from his forehead. “Be calm around them. They’re delicate—gentle if you’ll stop scaring them. After all, they’ve been in an accident.”
“Me, scare them!” She scoffed. “Are you crazy?”
A car honked and more birds flew into the air, clucking.
He handed her the one he held and ran after a hen about to run across the road.
“Don’t leave!” Breathless, she trembled. The chicken wiggled and tried to fly, while she gingerly held it away from her face, fearing it might peck her.
The farmer directed a car past the disabled truck, and then came back to her. “I’ll take that bird.” With the fowl held securely in his strong arms, he jogged to the truck and put it in a wooden crate. The sign on the door of the flatbed vehicle read, “Edgar’s Egg Farm.”
Frightened, she watched the stranger collect the rest of the poultry.
She opened the door to her convertible and found a hen comfortably sitting in the jump seat. Another stood in the driver’s spot. It pecked at her when she tried to shoo it away. She waved her arms, shouting, “Get out of my car!”
“Hey, enough! They’re more afraid of you than you are of them.”
“You want to bet?” she yelled in a voice she didn’t recognize. “Take these out of my car!”
He turned from her.
OMG, she was making a fool of herself, but as a kid, a huge black bird had dive-bombed her and pecked at her. Though she’d only been six years old, the event remained fresh in her mind. The bird chased her until her father rescued her.
The guy crawled into the back seat and grabbed the resting bird then stood up from the car.
“Lady, next time drive more slowly around these roads. You might have hit someone!”
“Look cowboy—whatever your name is.” She poked her index finger at his solid chest and glared up at him.
“Chance Williams.” He grinned.
His mocking smile irritated her. “Mr. Chance, I don’t need your comments about what I should do or how to drive.”
“Williams.”
“What?” She removed her sunglasses and stared.
“Williams. My name is Mr. Williams.”
“Yeah, whatever!” She waved him out of her way as a chicken flew at her. “Keeps those birds away from me. I thought you had all of them.”
“All but this Rhode Island Red.”
He grabbed the frightened Red, took it back to the flatbed truck and found a crate to put it in.
“Get out!” She opened the driver’s side door, pushed a final chicken out and sat down.
“You can leave, but go slowly.” Chance Williams scowled at her. “Then drive off to the end of the world for all I care. Just don’t speed on this road again!” Buy My Country Heart Sierra Creek Series
Do you love suspense? Dangerous Web by Reggi Allder One of for Dangerous books, Dangerous Denial, Dangerous Money, Dangerous Moves, and coming next Dangerous Sisters. Amazon buy link
When the past returns to threaten Emma’s present, is the key to her safety the man offering protection? Will his secrets put her in greater danger? “5.0 out of 5 stars will hold you on the edge of your seat as you follow Reggi’s real-to-life characters.” “Romantic Suspense from beginning to the thrilling end!” “The characters take you away!”
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7 comments:
I never gave chickens and eggs a thought as to how far back in history they go. Thank you for sharing, Reggi!
I always thought chickens were wild in North America, like turkeys, you know. I thought they were domesticated a little at a time. No Idea that 100s of years ago brought over from UK. Very interesting info. Loved your excerpt. Amanda.
Hi Julie, thanks for the opportunity! :)
Hi Amanda, glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for the kind words about the excerpt! :)
Interesting article, Reggi. Loved the silkie pic. My grandfather had a pet hen that followed him everywhere.
Hi Sandra, yes, Silkies are so cute! Love the story of your grandfather with a pet hen! :)
Hi Reggi: great info on history of chickens. I happen to have ducks. I use their eggs and although some folks think they taste different, I think it's just because they have a really big yolks. The eggs pictured are so beautiful.
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