Naked Chicken Research
1976: Drs. William Johnson and Robert Truax of Louisiana State University raised and studied featherless chickens.
The story reminds me of the old urban legend about KFC raising mutant, featherless chickens. Maybe this is where the story started.
Aside from the physical problems, the chickens have social problems and psychological hangups, Johnson said.
"I guess 'embarrassed' is as good a word for it as any. You put one of them in with a flock of normal birds, and it huddles off in a corner by itself. The other birds won't have anything to do with it until they get used to it," he said.
"And then they're just not as active sexually. They will court and strut much more than the normal bird, but they don't mate as readily."
"I guess 'embarrassed' is as good a word for it as any. You put one of them in with a flock of normal birds, and it huddles off in a corner by itself. The other birds won't have anything to do with it until they get used to it," he said.
"And then they're just not as active sexually. They will court and strut much more than the normal bird, but they don't mate as readily."
The story reminds me of the old urban legend about KFC raising mutant, featherless chickens. Maybe this is where the story started.
Argus Leader - Aug 31, 1976
Salisbury Daily Times - Aug 31, 1976
Comments
I was told that the mutant chicken that they weren't allowed to call chicken anymore iwas called "food bird". I can't find any reference to that now so maybe it wasn't a widely-hello embellishment., Any time this story comes up I'm still going to think "food bird!"
Posted by Joe on 09/29/17 at 07:40 AM
Chickens that are missing feathers are usually constantly pecked upon by others in the flock. I think that this behavior probably gave rise to the phrase "pecking order." (Don't hold me to that!)
However those chickens missing feathers, when placed in isolation with one another, usually do not peck away at each other. This is what I observed on our small backyard farm when I was a lad.
However those chickens missing feathers, when placed in isolation with one another, usually do not peck away at each other. This is what I observed on our small backyard farm when I was a lad.
Posted by KDP on 09/29/17 at 05:04 PM
As opposed, I presume, to McDisgusting raising mutant, tasteless cows?
Oh, no, wait. That would mean that there is actually beef in a Big Cardboard, so that can't possibly be true.
Oh, no, wait. That would mean that there is actually beef in a Big Cardboard, so that can't possibly be true.
Posted by Richard Bos on 10/01/17 at 10:47 AM
Sounds like naked militant feminists - lots of strutting, but little sex.
Posted by RobK on 10/02/17 at 10:55 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Animals | Science | Psychology | 1970s