As we approach Easter, some of us can’t help but think about eggs. The Cadbury Crème Eggs are great, but the ones produced by chickens (and other poultry birds) are far more impressive.
Egg protein has been recognized to be highly digestible and an excellent source of essential amino acids, according to the National Institutes of Health. That protein can possibly increase height in children and has been proven to be important to skeletal muscle health. Eggs contain several nutritional components which protect against chronic disease, including lutein, zeaxanthin, choline, vitamins A and D and selenium.
But what about the birds that produce eggs? By definition, “poultry” are domestic fowl like chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea fowl and geese. They can all be raised for meat, eggs and even their feathers.
The Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations noted that in 2020, chickens accounted for 94% of the world’s poultry population, followed by ducks (3%) and turkeys (1%). Chickens contribute to 90% of world poultry meat production, followed by turkeys with 5%, ducks with 4% and geese and guinea fowl with 2%. The rest comes from other poultry species.
We owe a lot to our fine feathered friends, and so we fete them every March 19 in America by celebrating National Poultry Day.
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has a lot of resources available for young farmers to learn more about raising and harvesting poultry (available here).
As for those already tending to flocks, one resource Country Culture is proud to highlight is Homeplace Market’s housing options for poultry. Like they say, quality coops mean happy hens.
Lightweight yet durable coops mean that your poultry are well protected while they do their thing in the pasture. In addition to protecting your birds from predators, keeping them sheltered can also help to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or bird flu), which ramps up in times when wild bird populations migrate north and south.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offers more information and ways to prevent HPAI at this link.
Use this National Poultry Day to say thank you to the birds who give us so much – and start brainstorming how you’re going to dye your Easter eggs.
