Last Updated: 30 March 2003
German-Russian Stories Continued
Russian Chickens
Judy A. Remmick-Hubert's Question with answer from Opal White:
> Did they have chickens in S. Russia in the 1800s?
I just assume they did because all the eggs needed for bread and coffee cakes...
What kind of chickens were they?
Today there are all kinds of breeds but back in the 1800s were they are white, red, speckled...... ??
Did the ones in Russia lay white, brown or colored eggs....?>>
Opal White replied:
<<Why- they were Russian chickens, of course! ( Sorry, I couldn't resist)
My grandmother told me they kept chickens in Brienne >>Bessarabia<<- one breed was much like the old Rhode Island red- they were a smaller chicken- another was like the old Buff Orfington- a large chicken-wonderful for stewing. She said they always had brown eggs. They also used duck and goose eggs for cooking. In the spring, before the ducks and geese gets "broody", they lay lots of eggs, especially if they are gathered every day. That would also bring on a frenzy of "noodle-making"
One year my Mother raised about 100 ducks and every moring they would march single file out to the pasture to graze- dropping eggs all over the pasture. My grandmother lived with us that year and she would send my brother and I out to gather them and she would make noodles all day- every day! My Father could hardly haul flour home fast enough. He even had to make special screen racks to dry her noodles on. When dried, they were stored in big lard cans. BIG lard cans. They were about 2 1/2 feet tall and about 30 inches across. Kept dry , they lasted for a long time- couple years I guess.
Opal >>
owhite@3-cities.com
Letter #2
<<Hi- Use whatever you want of my message. BTW-
This grandmother was born Katherine Mattheis, June 5, 1861 in Brienne >>[Bessarabia] <<; came to the U.S. in 1876. Married my Grandfather, Daniel Reimann and raised 11 children. She was only 4' 10" tall and her size 3 shoes fascinated me. She died in 1941
Opal>>
See Opals photographs and story GRAIN HARVESTING STORIES
List of Other Barnyard Animals Know to German-Russians
Horse Breeds are noted in the Villages of German-Russians, A List
Cattle Breeds are mentioned in Villages of German-Russians, A List