Most everyone has seen live chickens and knows that is where the eggs come from that we cook in so many different ways. In former days, even city folks kept a few chickens in their yards and enjoyed fresh eggs, as well as an occasional roast chicken dinner. But today they are usually raised by the thousands on what are called poultry farms. Eggs are shipped out daily from these farms to markets and grocery stores. More than five billion eggs a year are marketed in the United States alone.
American Indians never saw chickens until the Pilgrims brought some Rhode Island reds with them from England. Now there are over fifty varieties, including cornish, New Hampshire, white rock, Rhode Island reds, Plymouth Rock and the white leghorn which is the most common and produces most of the eggs sold in the United States. Some 450 million hens supply these. A champion white leghorn can lay 361 eggs in one year, but most lay between 100 and 300.
Like all birds, chickens actually lay eggs to produce baby chicks. If they could steal away from the poultry farm and make hidden nests in which to lay eight to ten eggs, they would keep them warm under their fluffy feathers for about three weeks until they hatched and then take good care of the chicks. But on today’s poultry farms, that is impossible since the eggs are removed continually. Incidentally, young hens less than a year old are known as pullets and young roosters as cockerels.
Part of the interesting work of poultrymen is raising chicks in warm areas called incubators. Special fertile eggs are placed in these incubators, hatching in 20 days. When it’s time, the little chick inside the shell pecks its way out with its strong little beak. At first it is not very cute because its feathers are wet. But after an hour or so it dries off and is so fluffy and cute you’d want to pick it up and hold its fluffy little body to your cheek. But you might get a gentle peck from its tiny beak in return.
Although poultrymen must be given credit for their careful work in raising these millions of chickens and marketing their eggs, it is really the Lord God, the Creator, who designed this amazing way of a chicken’s life beginning in an egg. And He further designed chickens in such a way that poultrymen can raise them for us as a wonderful food supply.
The Bible tells us, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:1919But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)). As He is supplier of everything we need, we should be continually thanking Him, especially for His loving care over us.
ML-01/30/2005
JANUARY 30, 2005