Great article, we were part of the suburban chicken revival of the past decade and I love this topic, however I was a little suprised to see one thing not noted, that is the development (circa 1960 I believe) of the Cornish X hybrid bird (across between a Plymoth Rock and a Cornish) that is the modern suepermarket meat chicken. The genetics of the Cornish X allow them to grow from a 2 once chick to a 7-9 lb bird ready to process in only 8 weeks and that is really the reason why chicken has become so prevelant in our diet.
One thought is that at that time eggs were seasonal (mostly spring), and year round production didn’t happen until Petaluma came up with all their inventions.
That’s right. Eggs were mostly a seasonal product until the 20th century. Although, even before Petaluma, American egg farmers were experimenting big-time with coaxing chickens into laying during the winter. Lots of articles in 19th century poultry magazines about winter egg production.
I love the backyard chicken movement. Rock on, chicken people.
Regarding the Cornish X, on the one hand, I really admire the ingenuity of American farmers and ag companies. For example, it’s amazing what the selective breeding of chickens has accomplished over the past century. Those Cornish X birds are not just fast maturing, they’re super “thrifty”, which means that two pounds of feed turns into one pound of chicken. That is flat out amazing.
On the other hand, I can’t help but worry about the costs. Yes, poultry is cheaper, but farmers are not better off because of it, except for Tyson, et al. Nor is the taste superior, and there are all of those nagging health worries.
Also, you’re right. I should tell the story of the conversion of Americans into chicken eaters. No one really does it justice or understands how big a change this was.
The film critic Pauline Kael was born on a chicken farm in Petaluma. Brian Kellow talks a bit about it in his biography of her.
Great article, we were part of the suburban chicken revival of the past decade and I love this topic, however I was a little suprised to see one thing not noted, that is the development (circa 1960 I believe) of the Cornish X hybrid bird (across between a Plymoth Rock and a Cornish) that is the modern suepermarket meat chicken. The genetics of the Cornish X allow them to grow from a 2 once chick to a 7-9 lb bird ready to process in only 8 weeks and that is really the reason why chicken has become so prevelant in our diet.
One thought is that at that time eggs were seasonal (mostly spring), and year round production didn’t happen until Petaluma came up with all their inventions.
That’s right. Eggs were mostly a seasonal product until the 20th century. Although, even before Petaluma, American egg farmers were experimenting big-time with coaxing chickens into laying during the winter. Lots of articles in 19th century poultry magazines about winter egg production.
I love the backyard chicken movement. Rock on, chicken people.
Regarding the Cornish X, on the one hand, I really admire the ingenuity of American farmers and ag companies. For example, it’s amazing what the selective breeding of chickens has accomplished over the past century. Those Cornish X birds are not just fast maturing, they’re super “thrifty”, which means that two pounds of feed turns into one pound of chicken. That is flat out amazing.
On the other hand, I can’t help but worry about the costs. Yes, poultry is cheaper, but farmers are not better off because of it, except for Tyson, et al. Nor is the taste superior, and there are all of those nagging health worries.
Also, you’re right. I should tell the story of the conversion of Americans into chicken eaters. No one really does it justice or understands how big a change this was.
The film critic Pauline Kael was born on a chicken farm in Petaluma. Brian Kellow talks a bit about it in his biography of her.