Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Group seeks to protect rare chicken breeds

At about the time Foghorn Leghorn appeared on the Looney Toons drawing board in 1946, he began disappearing from America's dinner tables.

Now the bird on which the rooster cartoon character was modeled is among 66 types of old-fashioned chickens the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is trying to save from extinction as factory-raised cross varieties command 90 percent of the market.

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Monday, April 27, 2009

Chicken farming

I found an interesting story on chicken farming in the news and I thought it might interest some of you.

Having spent his working life in advertising, including founding the multi-million pound agencies, Samuels Jones Isaacson Page, and Eurobrand Communications, Graham Page felt ready for a change.

He was fed up with the daily commute into London and, as a widower, wanted to be around more for his three children – so he sold up, got out and in March 2008, at the age of 63, set up a poultry farm.
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Sunday, April 26, 2009

A Fox Got One of my Guinea Fowl

Yesterday in the early evening our guineas were squawking and putting out a loud distress cry. They were very agitated and we knew something was wrong. Even the chickens' posture changed, which is a sure sign of fear. Then the guineas flew up on the phone wires and barn roof, continuing their warning/distress cry. We figured there was a predator about, but we couldn't see anything.

A few minutes later, the front doorbell rang and one of our distant neighbours reported that a large fox was running down our drive with one of my birds in its mouth. So now Im down to 3 Guineas and a handful of chickens and roosters.

The perils of living in the country.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

More than 500,000 people keep chickens in England

I found this interesting story about keeping chickens in England and I thought it may interest some of you.

It has been eight months since the arrival of Bouncy Beauty, Black Beauty, Henny Penny, Coco Pops, Emily, Gertie and Rosie — the bossy one.

Their pretty feathers colour the garden and speckle the daffodils with shades of black, red, brown, grey and white as they scratch around and flutter in fear ofmy determined three-year-old.

More than 500,000 people keep chickens in England and it is not hard to see why. It was a revelation to me how kind they can be, putting up with grubby expressions of love from my three little boys, quickly learning to come when called and sitting in the sun clucking and cooing beatifically. But as much fun as chickens can be, and although we haven’t bought an egg since last November, we certainly don’t seem to be saving ourselves any money.....


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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Chicken Bandits

Florida police are looking for robbers that held up a woman for her chicken. The suspects followed the woman home after her shift at Popeye's Chicken in Jacksonville.

The suspects kept circling the home of the woman in a car yelling, "Give us the chicken!" then the suspects approached the couple with a shot gun and threatened to shoot them if they didn't put down the chicken. However before they left, the chicken bandits also took the woman's purse.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Obama Fried Chicken

A Brooklyn eatery is in hot water over its name. Obama Fried Chicken. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the New York City fried chicken restaurant named after President Obama could probably find a more appropriate name. Black activists say the name is "very offensive to African Americans."

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Backyard Chickens

If you are interested in the Backyard Chickens issue that many cities are wrestling with you may want to read the article Concerns about backyard chickens are valid, but solutions exist

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Trade in Chicken-Flavored Frogs Uncovered

A Nashville area restaurant is expected to face action for allegedly importing frog legs and serving them as "chicken."Read More