21 replies to this topic

[kalbers]

I'm the person in charge of organizing the Chicken Festival. I'm the Special Events & Youth Development Coordinator for Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District. The Chickens have been around Fair Oaks for much longer than Hugh Gorman. Hugh was not the person responsible for bringing the chickens in, but he is a huge supporter of the community and a wonderful artist. Below is an excerpt from an article done on Fair Oaks.

“The hens and roosters that roam this village are descendants of those that have been part of Fair Oaks village life since the first farmers bought 20-acre tracts and began to grow citrus back in 1895,” said Cathy Smallhouse, one of the past organizers of the event. “Tourists have taken pictures of them for years, and love ‘em or hate ‘em, we decided it’s time for the residents to acknowledge their place in the community, too.”

Everyone should come to the Chicken Festival, which is a GREAT way to truly get to know Fair Oaks and it's wonderful fowl feathered friends. Visit us at www.fairoakspark.org for more information.

[mylo]

Wow, 20 acres sounds pretty small for 1895

[supermom]

So, first you start with a mommy chicken, add a daddy chicken, and well.. go ask your mother.

Or, was it start with an egg? I always forget.

Nope--God only made that mistake once!


First, there was a Mommy chicken, then there was a Daddy chicken---

[mylo]

Nope--God only made that mistake once!

First, there was a Mommy chicken, then there was a Daddy chicken---

Technically, wasn't there a Daddy chicken first, then He made a Mommy chicken from a leftover drumette?

[supermom]

Technically, wasn't there a Daddy chicken first, then He made a Mommy chicken from a leftover drumette?

Nope---Mommy chickens have extra Plummage.

They gave some to help God make a Daddy chicken.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Wow, 20 acres sounds pretty small for 1895

no, actually very common. at that time, developers were coming in and dividing up old ranchers (yes, there is nothing new under the sun) and creating 20 acre parcels to sell by catalog to people in colder climates back east. That is how they got the cute names like Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, etc. People in snowy states saw the fliers saying they could get 20 acres for a reasonable price, start a little home ranch and grow an orchard of citrus trees (and other "exotic" fruits) as an income producer. Very common. Also happened throughout the central valley. Carmichael came just a little later and had slightly smaller parcels, down to 10 acres, and on it goes until today when people have more square footage in their house than they do in their yards.

[Dave Burrell]

no, actually very common. at that time, developers were coming in and dividing up old ranchers (yes, there is nothing new under the sun) and creating 20 acre parcels to sell by catalog to people in colder climates back east. That is how they got the cute names like Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, etc. People in snowy states saw the fliers saying they could get 20 acres for a reasonable price, start a little home ranch and grow an orchard of citrus trees (and other "exotic" fruits) as an income producer. Very common. Also happened throughout the central valley. Carmichael came just a little later and had slightly smaller parcels, down to 10 acres, and on it goes until today when people have more square footage in their house than they do in their yards.

wish I could get 10-20 acres in town now, those were the good ol' days when land was plentiful and a neighbors window was more then 10-20 feet away.