wondering why there are never any chickens in a manger scene

[feathersnuggles]

Quote:
Oh my, it looks like Godzilla visits Bethlehem!

 

[Q9]

That's actually a good question. I'm a history buff, but this era is definitely NOT my specialty.

Still, I think I'll hazard a guess. It's possible that the purpose of a manger was mostly to take care of larger livestock like sheep, cattle, etc. Chickens were probably kept in a similar manner to the way we usually imagine, seperately from the other animals, in a coop or barn of some sort.

Knowing the way my guesses are, I'm probably wrong on every single point.

Just my 2 cents worth - if that.

 

[FireTigeris]

I had an old manger scene with three hens and a rooster, they were 'attached' to the donkey (same mold)

 

[wegotchickens]

I still think there'd be chickens in the eaves and rafters of the stable, though....

 

[maizey]

we had chickens at our live Nativity at church..in fact one of our teens had to have a band aid because she scratched the snot out of him. We have chickens every year. The nativity has the donkey, because thats what carried Mary, and the sheep because of the shepherds visit, and the stable would have probably housed goats and chickens. These were poor working class folks, cows and horses probably were what were scarce. I imagine there were plenty of chickens around... dont know why they arent represented

 

[theoldchick]

Ain't no chickens in stable because they flew the coop!

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Historically speaking, it wasn't really a stable.... But I do like that idea for the modern interpretations of the Nativity.

 

[biddyboo]

You made me think of some little clay hens and geese that I have from a set of Amish-made barnyard animals. Next year I'll set them at the feet of the Baby. Thanks for helping to add a missing link to our nativity. ~G

 

[roocrazy]

i just think a little chicken statue would be too small to put in a ntivity scene.

there is a chicken in the book "Who is Coming to Our House?" and we have a wall quilt that has muscovys on it.

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
You know, I think I saw that once, a long time ago. Because as I looked at Nativity scenes I kept thinking, "But there used to be chickens!"