Pease porridge in the pot, 9 days old...

I pulled an assortment of things from the fridge this morning to heat up for the chickens. I'd saved them leftovers I knew they'd like but I didn't want, like meat scraps/fat from the organic meats we'd eaten, a cup of pumpkin puree I didn't make muffins with, the bowtie pasta that was a little too al dente. My girls are molting and need all the help they can get.

Then I saw the containers in the back of the fridge. I couldn't remember the origin of most. But I opened each and none were fuzzy and none smelled bad. So I added them to the pot warming on the stove. I should've used a bigger pot!

Then I added the remains of the oatmeal canister to soak up fluids.

And as I stirred the mess of meat & veggie & pasta studded sludge on my stove, I started thinking of this rhyme:

Pease porridge hot
Pease porridge cold
Pease porridge in the pot
Nine days old.

Have you ever looked up the origin of that poem? My chickens were eating better than some peasants used to long ago. Pease porridge was anything anyone found to eat, all cooked in a pot that was added to each day. Some of the stuff in there WAS 9 days old. Some was recent. Grains were added to extend whatever meats and veggies were available. It was mush and it was better than nothing. My chickens really were were eating better than some peasants used to long ago.

And then I realized my chickens were eating better than some people do NOW.

Wow.

Counting my blessings and about to give my daughter a history lesson on food, before we go tend my flock.

And I'll be thinking a little differently about food all day today. I'm really spoiled, you know? Most of us are. Wow.

Thanks for letting me ramble, and have a great day!!

I did that today too!(a HUGE bowl..) They had mixed veggies(corn, carrots, green beans), noodles, boiled fish, soaked dog food, tomatoes, green pepper, saur kraut, cooked potatos, left over ham casserole, few pieces of stale bread..
umm..i cant remember what else i threw in the bowl...LOL
chickens, ducks, pigs, geese all ate like piggies...

I cook mine up a mash of cracked corn and rolled oats( the 50lb bag they use for horses) and add what ever leftovers from the day before, my better half always rolls his eyes at me but the girls love warm mash on a cold morning. I am so glad that I am not the only one that does this....

My girls went NUTS for it! The laying hens that is...

My spoiled banties wanted scratch grains instead.

So the layers got everyone else's plate of porridge. They were very pleased. And they were the ones I wanted to have it the most. Poor molting, shabby, pitiful-looking things!!

And I had my history talk with DD, who had a sensible lunch rather than try and convince me to go buy her fast food & some expensive lemon cookies she loves
And who was VERY grateful she wasn't expected to eat what the chickens were eating


And no, you aren't alone in spoiling your pets with warmed leftovers.