[Northkeep] OK, here is a Lenten question...maybe Talana?

[Jerry Herring]

According to a few tidbits from some quick searches of agricultural sites 
chicken was an acceptable meat during lent in medieval times this is backed up 
by archeological findings of cast off chicken bones from mature poultry at 
historical farming sites. This would also lend to what Talana was saying...Sure 
the cows needed milking but not every farm had a cow and those that did hardly 
every had more than one to a handful...remember unlike today medieval crofts and 
peasant farms were not so huge as the farms of today. On a lot of these farms 
milk collected during Lent could easily be prepared and processed for cheese 
which would take care of concerns for it souring and going bad over the 40 
days...and any excess cheese produced would be a perfect item to offer as tithes 
or taxes to your local church or noble. Since not everyone was a fisherman or 
raised chickens then some of the flock could be traded off to other folk for 
goods to help with the problem of eggs production. Further the flock might and 
there by egg production might be reduced by the eating of more chicken during 
Lent. Also saving those eggs to set under the remaining hens to help replenish 
the flock after Lent's predations.
 
Kindly
Ian