Former resident recalls era when city allowed backyard chickens

To the Editor,Reading from comfortably afar about Tecumseh’s current brouhaha regarding chickens in the residential district brought back distant memories. During the Second World War, citizens across the country were urged to plant Victory gardens, and encouraged to raise chickens as well. This was excellent advice and most Tecumsehites ended up enjoying a steady supply of fresh, fresh eggs and free-range chickens with all that rich yellow gravy. I don’t remember any great civic unrest about the matter.Roosters, though, could sometimes be a problem. Dad’s backyard chickenyard housed some eight or nine hens and a huge, unruly white Leghorn rooster. Being a kid, of course, I was immediately delegated to feed the flock and gather the eggs. I soon got so I could face down a cranky hen, but that rooster was always ready to take a peck at my leg if I let him get too close. One fine day, that hell-spawn bird came roaring at me and I fled the scene. He fastened his claws on my back and beat me about the head with his powerful wings all the way up to the house. My parents proved to be excellent child psychologists. Dad reached for his ax and Mom promised to cook and can the bird, which she did that very afternoon. I remember slipping into the pantry and gloating at the Mason jars packed with my old enemy. Chicken from the store just isn’t the same thing. Raymond L. PufferVictorville, Calif.

Tecumseh Herald

 

110 E. Logan St.
P.O. Box 218
Tecumseh, MI 49286
517-423-2174
800-832-6443

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