The title of this book poses an interesting question: why do chickens occur all over the world, and have for a long time? The short answer is that people took them around the globe because they are useful and noble birds.
Penguins (which I blogged about yesterday) are relatively rare birds and are considered cute, while chickens are so ubiquitous as to be thought boring. Andrew Lawler has done a great job of convincing me that chickens are not in the least bit boring, and hopefully the photo below of Henny Penny and Co. (wondering if my iPad is edible) will convince you that they are cute. Readable, surprising and captivating, this book will make you want to immerse yourself to find out more about this fascinating bird of contradictions.
Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? is dense with facts, including many surprising ones such as that there are more chickens in the world than cats, dogs and rats put together, in fact, so many chickens that they outnumber people. Andrew Lawler argues that chickens are far more useful and important to human history than they are generally given credit for. They have been significant for religions from Zoroastrianism to Christianity for thousands of years and, because of the rooster’s habit of crowing just before dawn, they have frequently been seen as symbols of light and resurrection. As small animals that will eat scraps, they have always been economically important to poor or marginalized populations such as American slaves. They are important to medicine and scientific research in areas from growing vaccines to chick embryo development.
The chicken’s own history is somewhat murky. They are almost certainly descended from Asian Jungle Fowl (probably Red), but whether it was once or multiple times, and exactly where, is still controversial. We know why the chicken crossed the world, but how is not as clear, because chickens are small animals with tiny, easily eaten, scattered or rotted bones. Archaeological evidence of chickens is scarce, but it does suggest that Polynesians took chickens on their remarkable Pacific voyages, and that Tandoori Chicken recipes may have been invented in Indus Valley civilizations around 5000 years ago! For local history buffs, in 1752 the College of William and Mary banned their students from attending cockfights, but that didn’t stop George Washington attending one in nearby Yorktown!
One thing I found missing from this book was illustrations. When the author talked about the Red Jungle Fowl or Queen Victoria’s many exotic breeds, I wanted to see what they looked like, so I used a copy of Storey’s Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds by Carol Ekarius with its great illustrations.
This book will appeal to readers who are interested in the intersection between humans and animals such as Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat, by Hal Herzog, or the effects of animals on human history like Spillover, by David Quammen.
Check the WRL catalog for Why Did the Chicken Cross the World.
Okay, you made me want to read this book. Your first paragraph made me laugh. Useful, yes, but noble? I have been around chickens a lot. I never thought about how they are all over the world, though. Now I am interested.
cynfranks
I am glad we piqued your interest!
I think chickens are certainly noble for the role they have had in human history which isn’t often acknowledged, especially for less powerful people. It seems like dogs get all the kudos! As for individual chickens, I am finding my new little flock interesting and cute, but they are inclined to be silly and go into feathery hysterics over the smallest thing – being “chicken” I suppose! I am not sure if they can count as noble then?
Jan
Oh, they are not chicken. Let a rat or mouse get into the coup and see what happens. They are the descendants of dinosaurs after all. Personally, I find ducks more fun and duck eggs are excellent for baking. Guess I’ve been attacked by one two many roosters with an attitude. I have put the book on my reading list. Great post! Thanks!
cynfranks
Our Muscovy ducks are much meaner than our rooster! We got the ducks and the rooster when we had problems with (unknown) predators, and haven’t had any problems since. We assumed it was the ducks since they are meaner to us but maybe our rooster (Kronk since he is gorgeous, but seemed useless!) is keeping predators away at well!
Jan
I have Rouen ducks. Much different type of duck. Muscovy ducks are more like geese for sure!
That… is a strangely obscure but compelling topic of interest there. Poor maligned (delicious) chickens…
Villanelle
Chickens are obscure, but they probably shouldn’t be because they are so common (are they one of the most common vertebrates? It’s probably a fish?). Chickens’ usual obscurity is one reason I found the book fascinating – I was reading about something common and everyday and seeing it in a new light.
Jan
Reblogged this on matecheowino.
Reblogged this on claaarrr.
I must say I will be looking at my next chicken dinner with more respect.
Barbara
You have brought up a problem for me! I now have chickens in my yard (running around) and chicken in my freezer (definitely not running around). It is a contradiction for me…
But perhaps we should all be looking at chickens with more respect? I’m not sure!
Jan
Interesting read. :-) Chickens are so commonplace, but this gives the topic a fresh new face. :-p