Page 7 - Martin Downs Bulletin - November '24

Martin Downs, Page 7

Book Review from page 6 It is from Montgomery’s several decades of her own
experience raising her “ladies,” many from chicks, plus
clear: one in which a fox that had sneaked onto the property her roosters and all that she has studied about her ever-
with chicken dinner in mind got the shock of its life facing changing flocks, that she has filled the pages of this
an angry, charging rooster and did a rapid about-face … deceptively slim 96-page book with an extraordinary
and another time, when Sy’s husband, Howard, was lying number of surprising facts about the birds we all –
on the ground repairing a lawnmower. As she describes it: mistakenly – thought we knew.
“Just beyond the narrow space between the grass and Within the first few pages you will readily understand
the machine’s metal undercarriage, movement catches why more families than you might imagine throughout the
your eye. Scaley reptilian, yellow feet, heavily armed with nation enjoy the company of chickens (how many “pets”
long, pointed claws – and, just above the toes, curved, offer the gift of eggs in return for their care?) and name each
knife-sharp spurs – are purposefully striding toward you of the birds in their precious feathered family members for
at face level. It feels like that scene from Jurassic Park, its individual personality, color or other physical feature.
where the humans are hiding from the hunting velociraptor As she notes, some are shy, some more aggressive; some
– an animal from which, in fact, your avian assailant is affectionate, others aloof. Just like humans.
descended. And they are smart! Here are just a few examples of • “Only hours after leaving the egg they are able to walk,
“You have been detected. The ominous feet hurry now, the many surprises you will find in these pages. (Some run and peck.” (An adult chicken can run as fast as nine
pounding the ground in a frenzy. There is no mistaking text has been omitted for lack of space): miles an hour!)
it; this is a rooster on a rampage – the bane of many an • “In 2023, a study reported that roosters recognize their • “Relationships are important to them. The average
otherwise peaceful barnyard.” own reflections in mirrors – common … measure of self- chicken can recognize more than 100 other chickens.
What to do? The answer, shockingly, is to pick it up awareness. Previous experiments show that apes, like They can remember the past and anticipate the future, and
and cuddle it! humans, do this.” they communicate specific information through at least
24 distinct calls.” A warning signal from a rooster to his
hens, for example, will alert them to whether an enemy
is approaching by ground or from the air!
There is hardly a page without an eye-opening surprise:
“The disturbing fact that, on the way to the soup pot, a
chicken can continue to run around after decapitation
does little to bolster appreciation for the species’ more
refined traits. In fact, one rooster was able to live for
18 months after his head was cut off. Farmer Lloyd
Olsen, hoping to please his visiting mother-in-law, who
particularly savored boiled chicken neck, failed to kill
the rooster when his axe missed the bird’s carotid artery
and left one ear and most of the brain stem intact. Not
only did the victim survive, but he grew from two and a
half pounds to eight and attained national fame as Mike
the Headless Chicken from 1945 to 1947.”
For me personally, as I turned the last page of
What the Chicken Knows, one thought struck me
most poignantly: Ever thoughtful and considerate of
her readers, Montgomery has kept this book’s focus
entirely on helping us to better understand and enjoy the
fascinating and fun facts about these remarkable birds
who are so much a part of our lives.
Not once in these pages does this author mention that
she herself is a vegetarian, nor does she devote a single
sentence to the suffering of these sentient creatures from
the cruelty of the factory-like poultry industry. It was not
her purpose in writing this book.
Sparing us such a balanced narrative is her gift to this
book’s readers despite what I know to be her own deep
feelings on the subject, having read and reviewed half a
dozen of her earlier books.
As a senior now, I realize that if this book had been
written decades ago it might have been a life-changing
experience in one sense for me. Perhaps it’s not too late. I
hear those plant-based burgers and other meat substitutes
are pretty good … and I would feel so good about myself.
I strongly suggest you lay your hands on a copy of this
book as soon as possible … even if you have to scramble
to get it!

Dancing With The Martin Stars from page 1

company Oxefit; Craig Glavin, manager of Astra
Dance Studio and a two-time winner of Dancing with
the Martin Stars as a teacher and once as a coach;
and Chris Thiel, a top performing realtor with RE/
MAX and a former dance teacher and competitive
ballroom dancer served as judges. Charles Jones of
CDJ Entertainment served as emcee at the Lyric, with
Dr. Ed Savage emceeing the live feed at Ross Hall.
“We’re so grateful for the entire community who
support us each year,” Suffich said. “From our local
celebrities who danced their hearts out onstage and
raised funds offstage, to the audience that filled the
Lyric to capacity, everyone brought their passion for
both the event and the cause it supports.”
The Martin County Healthy Start Coalition
expressed its thanks to all of its sponsors and
supporters, in particular Title Sponsor Mark R. Kaiser
Dermatology; Samba Sponsors Women’s Health
Specialists and Rommel Wilson Memorial Fund; and
Tango Sponsors Ooo La La, Muscle Vodka, and the
Lichtenberger Foundation.
For more information and event photos, visit https://
www.mchealthystart.org/dancing-with-the-martin-
stars/2024-stars-dancers/.
For more information about Martin County Healthy
Start Coalition and its ongoing programs, visit www.
mchealthystart.org, call (772) 463-2888 or follow the
See answer in this paper. organization on Facebook.