Page 5 - The Islander - November '24

The Islander, Page 5

Book review from page 4 There is hardly a page without an eye-opening surprise:
“The disturbing fact that, on the way to the soup pot, a
How wrong I was! And how fortunate we all are to chicken can continue to run around after decapitation does
have so knowledgeable a guide as Sy Montgomery to little to bolster appreciation for the species’ more refined
enrich our lives once again in making us aware of what traits. In fact, one rooster was able to live for 18 months after
unrealized wonder and beauty surrounds us, all too often his head was cut off. Farmer Lloyd Olsen, hoping to please
under-appreciated. his visiting mother-in-law, who particularly savored boiled
For those not yet familiar with Montgomery’s chicken neck, failed to kill the rooster when his axe missed
background, I should point out that she and her author- the bird’s carotid artery and left one ear and most of the brain
historian husband, Howard Mansfield, live in New stem intact. Not only did the victim survive, but he grew from
Hampshire and for decades have shared their home’s two and a half pounds to eight and attained national fame as
property from time to time with an assortment of animals, Mike the Headless Chicken from 1945 to 1947.”
from their border collie dog, Thurber, to a pig that they For me personally, as I turned the last page of What the
raised from a tiny runt to 500-plus pound Volkswagen- Chicken Knows, one thought struck me most poignantly:
sized Christopher Hogwood who wandered the town on It is from Montgomery’s several decades of her own Ever thoughtful and considerate of her readers, Montgomery
his own getting handouts from the butcher, pet scratches experience raising her “ladies,” many from chicks, plus has kept this book’s focus entirely on helping us to better
from the kids and became the subject of a bestselling book her roosters and all that she has studied about her ever- understand and enjoy the fascinating and fun facts about
by Montgomery. changing flocks, that she has filled the pages of this these remarkable birds who are so much a part of our lives.
But always among her favorites have been the small deceptively slim 96-page book with an extraordinary Not once in these pages does this author mention that she
flock of egg-laying hens that she calls her “little ladies,” number of surprising facts about the birds we all – herself is a vegetarian, nor does she devote a single sentence
who have their own chicken coop but are allowed free mistakenly – thought we knew. to the suffering of these sentient creatures from the cruelty
run of the backyard under the protection of several of the Within the first few pages you will readily understand of the factory-like poultry industry. It was not her purpose
latest team of roosters. why more families than you might imagine throughout the in writing this book.
And one could not want a better protector than a nation enjoy the company of chickens (how many “pets” Sparing us such a balanced narrative is her gift to this
rooster, as two episodes described by Montgomery make offer the gift of eggs in return for their care?) and name each book’s readers despite what I know to be her own deep
very clear: one in which a fox that had sneaked onto the of the birds in their precious feathered family members for feelings on the subject, having read and reviewed half a
property with chicken dinner in mind got the shock of its individual personality, color or other physical feature. dozen of her earlier books.
its life facing an angry, charging rooster and did a rapid As she notes, some are shy, some more aggressive; some As a senior now, I realize that if this book had been
about-face … and another time, when Sy’s husband, affectionate, others aloof. Just like humans. written decades ago it might have been a life-changing
Howard, was lying on the ground repairing a lawnmower. And they are smart! Here are just a few examples of experience in one sense for me. Perhaps it’s not too late. I
As she describes it: the many surprises you will find in these pages. (Some hear those plant-based burgers and other meat substitutes
“Just beyond the narrow space between the grass and text has been omitted for lack of space): are pretty good … and I would feel so good about myself.
the machine’s metal undercarriage, movement catches • “In 2023, a study reported that roosters recognize their I strongly suggest you lay your hands on a copy of this
your eye. Scaley reptilian, yellow feet, heavily armed with own reflections in mirrors – common … measure of self- book as soon as possible … even if you have to scramble
long, pointed claws – and, just above the toes, curved, awareness. Previous experiments show that apes, like to get it!
knife-sharp spurs – are purposefully striding toward humans, do this.”
you at face level. It feels like that scene from Jurassic • “Only hours after leaving the egg they are able to walk,
Park, where the humans are hiding from the hunting run and peck.” (An adult chicken can run as fast as nine
velociraptor – an animal from which, in fact, your avian miles an hour!)
assailant is descended. • “Relationships are important to them. The average
“You have been detected. The ominous feet hurry now, chicken can recognize more than 100 other chickens.
pounding the ground in a frenzy. There is no mistaking They can remember the past and anticipate the future, and
it; this is a rooster on a rampage – the bane of many an they communicate specific information through at least
otherwise peaceful barnyard.” 24 distinct calls.” A warning signal from a rooster to his
What to do? The answer, shockingly, is to pick it up hens, for example, will alert them to whether an enemy Nov. 11
and cuddle it! is approaching by ground or from the air!

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