September is National Chicken Month
- Luanne
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
We've all heard the saying, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" Well, in September, the answer is most definitely, the chicken. September is National Chicken Month, and Semi-Homemade Life is celebrating with all things Chicken.
Chickens were originally domesticated from the Red Junglefowl in Southeast Asia approximately 8,000 years ago, with multiple domestication events contributing to their diverse genetics. Initially used for cockfighting and ceremonial purposes, their ability to provide meat and eggs led to their rapid global spread, although they were not used for this purpose till many years later. While the exact date of the first chicken consumption is uncertain, it is believed to have occurred around 3,500 years ago, with evidence of their consumption appearing in ancient Egypt and Europe by the Middle Ages.
As of 2023, the global chicken population exceeds 26.5 billion (the human population of Earth was only 8 billion at that time...), with more than 50 million birds being produced annually for consumption. Specialized breeds such as broilers and laying hens have been developed for meat and egg production, respectively. A hen bred for laying can produce over 300 eggs per year.
Chickens are social animals with complex vocalizations and behaviors, and feature prominently in folklore, religion, and literature across many societies. Their economic importance makes them a central component of global animal husbandry and agriculture.
There’s no denying it, chickens are very strange creatures. Here are a few strange facts about chickens:
Different chickens can lay different colored eggs.
Chickens take dirt baths.
Chickens don't have teeth.
Chickens evolved from dinosaurs (who definitely have teeth!!).
Chickens are omnivorous and will eat anything.
"Why did the Chicken cross the road? To get to the other side... yuck yuck yuck!" This joke first appeared in the 1847 edition of The Knickerbocker, a New York City monthly magazine. It is commonly seen as an example of anti-humor, since the listener expects a punchline, and is instead gifted with a common-sense answer.
Spatchcock Baked Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots
Ingredients:
Whole Chicken
Potatoes
Carrots
Herbs and spices of your choice
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray
Dice potatoes into bite size pieces and arrange in a single layer in bottom of baking dish
Dice carrots into bite size pieces and arrange on top of potatoes
Remove any bits from inside the chicken
Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut back bone out of the chicken
Flip the chicken and press the breast bone till the chicken lies flat. You may hear a popping sound (don’t worry, that’s normal).
Lay flattened chicken, breast side up, on top of potatoes and carrots in the baking dish
Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel
Spray (or smear) chicken with cooking oil
Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper and herbs/spices of your choice. (I like garlic, maybe some onion powder, thyme, and sage)
Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes per pound of bird or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees and the potatoes and carrots are fork tender.
Let rest 15 minutes before serving.
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