Chickens are a large part of folklore and mythology in Germany. They may be grain or harvest spirits, house spirits or dragon chickens. At harvest, especially in the south, the Getreidehahn or Grain Rooster waits among the stalks to peck out someone's eyes.
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His female partners are the Erntehennen or Harvest Hens. An unknown chicken scratching in the fields is a sign of luck. If harvest spirits are in the crop at reaping, they flee into the last stalks. Cut with care, the stalks go in house or barn over winter for luck and protection.
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In pagan tradition chickens are among the animals sacrificed or offered to the earth in hopes of a plentiful crop and fertility of land, humans and livestock. Blood nourishes the soil, the gods hear a prayer, feathers stuff pillows and dinner is served.
The Erdhenne or Earth Hen is a hen house spirit or occasionally a shape-shifting domestic Kobold. If her clucks and scratching are heard, it's a sign of good fortune, but the sight of the Erdhenne foretells death. If she clucks nine times, the head of the household will die.
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Her favor is won with offerings of grain. Like all chickens she also eats insects, and helps keep the home pest-free. A chicken's favorite food is maggots. She doesn't expect the homeowner to supply them, but if she's heard in meat storage, check for spoiled food.
The Drachenhuhne, Dragon Hen or Dragon Chicken is a dangerous spirit who manifests in or outside a home. Outside she may appear as a fireball or flash of lightning. Despite her ferocious nature, she has a special talent coveted by many.
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This chicken lays silver eggs, bringing wealth to a person; but she dislikes being owned. With her fiery associations the Drachenhuhne relates to demon and demonic magic. If upset she can set fires, bring blight, misfortune and sickness.
In animal spirituality, the hen or chicken is a symbol of abundance, fertility, motherhood, hope and the magic of beginnings (Hen: the egg or Rooster: the dawn). The colorful rooster relates to fashion, pride and dance.
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While the hen embodies protection, generosity and domestic harmony. In the East the Rooster is Yang, male, the sun, bright, action, while Hen is Yin, female, the moon, subconscious, mystery, wisdom.
From J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit comes this riddle:
A box without hinge, key or lid, but golden treasure inside is hid.
The egg is a symbol of fertility carries blessings of beginnings. In the Americas and other parts of the world, eggs are eaten in the morning. Traditional breakfasts in Germany and France do not include eggs. They're considered lunch or supper.
The egg is associated with spring and celebration of the equinox and feast of the west German nature goddess Eostre or Ēostre. She's also associated with spring in Celtic lore, showing influence of the Iron Age Celts who lived in a large part of today's Germany.
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