Chickens were worshipped in Iron Age Britain

With around 33 billion chickens in the world, the vast majority of which are bred for consumption, it’s hard to imagine our feathered friends on a pedestal, as much as we think they should be!

However, analysis by an international team of researchers examined chicken remains in 600 sites in 89 countries, including England, and discovered that before 1,500BC chickens were considered too rare and valued to be slaughtered for meat. Instead, chickens were celebrated, worshipped and even buried with humans suggesting they were there to accompany the human soul to the next life having been enjoyed as much-loved pets. Often cockerels accompanied male humans and and hens accompanied females.

The fascinating research also concluded chickens did not arrive in Europe until much later than originally thought, around 800 BC, and that it took another 1,000 years for them to become established in colder areas such as Scotland and Ireland.

Needless to say, it's our aim to see chickens once again become as revered and respected as they were during Iron Age Britain, although we know anyone reading this will already hold them in pretty high regard.