Welcome to the third day of our 12 Days of Christmas celebration, and just as all family members ought to be welcome at this time of year, all bird families are welcome to be part of our festivities.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Three French hens.
Many gifts in this popular carol are valuable gifts of meat, and there is no better game bird to give than birds in the Numididae family. At the time this song was written, the birds given as "French hens" may well have been helmeted guineafowl - large, plump birds native to Africa but often raised on farms around the world. What type of hens would you prefer grace your dinner table for a holiday feast? Share your preferences in the comments!
Helmeted Guineafowl
Photo © Kyknoord
Comments
Here at Rattlesnake Creek Garden Club, in the Futile Crescent, we like good ol’ Perdue chickens on our dinner table.