Living in Maine is always interesting. Maine is a large state with a very small population and most of the state is covered in forests with a population that consists of many rural folks. After moving here, I noticed that a great many people raise chickens. Every other yard has a chicken coop and a few birds roaming around the property. I always thought it was primarily the eggs everyone wanted but there are a couple of other reasons to have chickens I never considered. They are an easy way to remove bugs and ticks from your property and it’s also a very helpful way to help feed the many hawks, coyotes, and foxes that seem to be everywhere. They have to eat too you know. It’s not at all unusual for a homeowner to initially purchase six chickens and then be forced to replace a few every so often due to missing birds.

You would think these rural folks would be familiar with the many superstitions that surround chicken ownership. My better-half has tried numerous times to convince me to become a chicken owner but I’ve refused. I love eating them but after learning about all of these superstitions . . . no thank you. Here are a few things any potential chicken owner needs to know . . .

• If a hen roosts at noonday that’s a sign that someone in the family will soon die.

• Anyone who has the blood of the chickens spilled on their clothes will die an unnatural death.

• The clucking of a hen near a patient’s head is a sign of death.

• Watch out for mean gossip about you if you see two hens fighting.

• If you see hens laying eggs, you will have good luck.

• If you tie an old tough hen to a fig tree, the hen’s meat will become tender.

• In Korea it’s unlucky if you hear a rooster crow at sunset and a hen cluck at night.

• In Africa it’s unlucky for a rooster to crow before midnight.

• In Germany it is believed that when a rooster crows when a guest is leaving – even if it’s at daybreak – that guest will soon die.

• If a rooster crows in your cellar door – even at daybreak – it’s a sign of a speedy marriage.

• If a rooster crows all day, expect rain.

• If a rooster comes into your home, it’s a sign strangers will soon visit.

I hope that knowing all of these potential issues with chickens will help those of you who are on the fence about chicken ownership. I guess you could call this post a PSA, that’s Public Service Announcement for you chicken owners out there.

CLUCK. . .CLUCK. . .CLUCK