Just like today, poultry was very important in the 18th century, supplying both meat and eggs. George Washington raised turkeys, chickens, and ducks and many of the slaves raised poultry as well to provide extra food for their tables and to sell at market to earn money. Chickens were also placed in coups in the fields or gardens to pick bugs between the rows of vegetables.

Today, you'll see a variety of colonial breeds at Mount Vernon including the rare breed Bronze Gobbler Turkeys and Dominique Chickens in addition to guinea hens and wild turkeys.

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