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Greenleaf Farms

Ameraucanas and Araucanas on the range
(Forest City, Pennsylvania)

Fear of open spaces may have some value

agoraphobia.jpg

This article from the WSJ says that chickens fear of open spaces, typically attributed to cowardice, maybe just good common sense, in a study  done at the University of Wurtzberg, Germany demonstrates.  The idea is that open fields are evolutionary anxiety triggers, as larger predators can move faster over it than their smaller pray, whom in  turn have no place to hide.  I have seen this in action in my own fields, when a chook is cornered by the big hulking Russian wolfhound, aka Borzoi.  Gusto can literally tear up ground in seconds, while the little chook is frantically trying to make flight.  If not stopped in time, it's dead meat as Gusto loves the chase but not the raw bird.

Suki
08:47 PM EDT

Chicken rollatini is always in season

From Food & Wine, a green chicken dish.

  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Tightly roll them up lengthwise and secure with toothpicks at 1-inch intervals.
  2. In a large saucepan, combine the vinegar, 3/4 cup of water and a pinch of salt and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the chicken and cook over low heat until just white throughout, 10 to ?12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a work surface and let cool slightly. Discard the toothpicks. Slice the chicken crosswise into 1-inch-thick rounds.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil with the mixed herbs and season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken, turning to coat evenly in the herb oil. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Bring to room temperature and serve with crusty bread.


Suki
08:37 PM EDT
 

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