User blog comment:Getgroundhog/The biggest plot hole in Skyrim?/@comment-3492791-20120824055235

Just to point out some non-funny explanations.

The Dwemer didn't put the Oghma Infinium in the lock box. If you listen closely to Septimus, he says that someone else used the box to hide it. Not the Dwemer themselves.

People still eat chickens. However they don't want you to just kill their livestock. You can buy raw chicken from some merchents.

Now for the funnier answer;

Chickens are actually part of Skyrim's elite spy network. The guard are trying to protect thier valuable field agents.

Now the real question is why is there a recipe for making Dog steak when the only way to get dog meat is to kill Fido? (pre-dawnguard)