I’m a backyard chicken educator and I’m here to tell you that chickens can save
here to tell you that chickens can save
here to tell you that chickens can save the world it’s extraordinary how much
the world it’s extraordinary how much
the world it’s extraordinary how much the chicken is intertwined into our
the chicken is intertwined into our
the chicken is intertwined into our experience as human beings I mean can
experience as human beings I mean can
experience as human beings I mean can you even remember a time when you didn’t
you even remember a time when you didn’t
you even remember a time when you didn’t know about chickens chicken might have
know about chickens chicken might have
know about chickens chicken might have been one of your very first words the
been one of your very first words the
been one of your very first words the first toy you ever played with likely
first toy you ever played with likely
first toy you ever played with likely had a chicken on it was a chicken stuffy
had a chicken on it was a chicken stuffy
had a chicken on it was a chicken stuffy or made some variation of a cluck a Bock
or made some variation of a cluck a Bock
or made some variation of a cluck a Bock or a cockadoodledoo
chickens are even part of our everyday
chickens are even part of our everyday language you ever feel cooped up at the
language you ever feel cooped up at the
language you ever feel cooped up at the bottom of the pecking order maybe one
bottom of the pecking order maybe one
bottom of the pecking order maybe one day you got a little wild and actually
day you got a little wild and actually
day you got a little wild and actually flew the coop and someone was like hey
flew the coop and someone was like hey
flew the coop and someone was like hey man don’t put all your eggs in one
man don’t put all your eggs in one
man don’t put all your eggs in one basket and you were like you know what
basket and you were like you know what
basket and you were like you know what I’m just trying to come out of my shell
[Applause]
[Applause] and that’s just in our culture chickens
and that’s just in our culture chickens
and that’s just in our culture chickens have permeated cultures throughout
have permeated cultures throughout
have permeated cultures throughout history from ancient pottery to
history from ancient pottery to
history from ancient pottery to religious art to your grandmother’s
religious art to your grandmother’s
religious art to your grandmother’s kitchen chickens are everywhere and
kitchen chickens are everywhere and
kitchen chickens are everywhere and there’s something oddly comforting about
there’s something oddly comforting about
there’s something oddly comforting about the image of the chicken I think it’s
the image of the chicken I think it’s
the image of the chicken I think it’s because chickens are one of our common
because chickens are one of our common
because chickens are one of our common denominators which is a really good
denominators which is a really good
denominators which is a really good thing because right now when we’re so
thing because right now when we’re so
thing because right now when we’re so divided
divided
divided we kind of need all the common
we kind of need all the common
we kind of need all the common denominators we can get with over 25
denominators we can get with over 25
denominators we can get with over 25 billion chickens existing in the world
billion chickens existing in the world
billion chickens existing in the world maybe taking a look at how they’ve
maybe taking a look at how they’ve
maybe taking a look at how they’ve basically managed to make themselves a
basically managed to make themselves a
basically managed to make themselves a part of all of our lives we could find
part of all of our lives we could find
part of all of our lives we could find the humanity in each other
the humanity in each other
the humanity in each other so let’s start at the beginning
so let’s start at the beginning
so let’s start at the beginning long long ago in the jungles of Asia
long long ago in the jungles of Asia
long long ago in the jungles of Asia there lived a bird with striking plumage
there lived a bird with striking plumage
there lived a bird with striking plumage and an assertive personality this bird
and an assertive personality this bird
and an assertive personality this bird was called red jungle fowl and it still
was called red jungle fowl and it still
was called red jungle fowl and it still exists today it’s mainly from this bird
exists today it’s mainly from this bird
exists today it’s mainly from this bird that we believe the domestic chicken
that we believe the domestic chicken
that we believe the domestic chicken came to be but we’re not exactly sure
came to be but we’re not exactly sure
came to be but we’re not exactly sure where that domestication originated it
where that domestication originated it
where that domestication originated it was likely somewhere in Southeast Asia
was likely somewhere in Southeast Asia
was likely somewhere in Southeast Asia anywhere from seven to ten thousand
anywhere from seven to ten thousand
anywhere from seven to ten thousand years ago but it’s also thought that
years ago but it’s also thought that
years ago but it’s also thought that there may have been several locations of
there may have been several locations of
there may have been several locations of origination which is really cool because
origination which is really cool because
origination which is really cool because it’s like everybody had this awesome
it’s like everybody had this awesome
it’s like everybody had this awesome idea about chickens at the same time
regardless of exactly where and when it
regardless of exactly where and when it started one thing we do know is we’ve
started one thing we do know is we’ve
started one thing we do know is we’ve been in this chicken game a long time
been in this chicken game a long time
been in this chicken game a long time the original domestic chicken was
the original domestic chicken was
the original domestic chicken was smaller than your standard sized hens of
smaller than your standard sized hens of
smaller than your standard sized hens of today but make no mistake these little
today but make no mistake these little
today but make no mistake these little biddies had t-rex ancestry scary which
biddies had t-rex ancestry scary which
biddies had t-rex ancestry scary which you would know if you’ve ever seen a
you would know if you’ve ever seen a
you would know if you’ve ever seen a modern-day hen go after a lizard
modern-day hen go after a lizard
modern-day hen go after a lizard not pretty this whole idea that chickens
not pretty this whole idea that chickens
not pretty this whole idea that chickens are these docile vegetarians it’s so not
are these docile vegetarians it’s so not
are these docile vegetarians it’s so not true in fact I heard of a guy that
true in fact I heard of a guy that
true in fact I heard of a guy that actually put an entire deer carcass in
actually put an entire deer carcass in
actually put an entire deer carcass in his chicken coop and they picked it
his chicken coop and they picked it
his chicken coop and they picked it clean in one day
clean in one day
clean in one day it’s for this reason that I advise
it’s for this reason that I advise
it’s for this reason that I advise people do not somehow lose a finger in
people do not somehow lose a finger in
people do not somehow lose a finger in the chicken coop you’re never gonna see
the chicken coop you’re never gonna see
the chicken coop you’re never gonna see it again and please please don’t get
it again and please please don’t get
it again and please please don’t get drunk and pass out in the chicken coop
drunk and pass out in the chicken coop
drunk and pass out in the chicken coop you do not want to go out like that I
like to say chickens they look innocent
like to say chickens they look innocent but there’s flocks of vultures living in
but there’s flocks of vultures living in
but there’s flocks of vultures living in our backyards so back to how all this
our backyards so back to how all this
our backyards so back to how all this started the chicken was actually thought
started the chicken was actually thought
started the chicken was actually thought to be domesticated initially for
to be domesticated initially for
to be domesticated initially for fighting which is sad so I don’t like to
fighting which is sad so I don’t like to
fighting which is sad so I don’t like to think about it like that I like to think
think about it like that I like to think
think about it like that I like to think that one day this very intelligent human
that one day this very intelligent human
that one day this very intelligent human being was walking through their village
being was walking through their village
being was walking through their village just like this walking through their
just like this walking through their
just like this walking through their village and they’re like they see a
village and they’re like they see a
village and they’re like they see a chicken they’re like I would like to eat
chicken they’re like I would like to eat
chicken they’re like I would like to eat this feathered thing but first I would
this feathered thing but first I would
this feathered thing but first I would like to eat this round thing that comes
like to eat this round thing that comes
like to eat this round thing that comes out of its butt
out of its butt
out of its butt and so the symbiotic relationship
and so the symbiotic relationship
and so the symbiotic relationship between the human and the chicken was
between the human and the chicken was
between the human and the chicken was born it probably didn’t happen like that
born it probably didn’t happen like that
born it probably didn’t happen like that but what we do know is that our
but what we do know is that our
but what we do know is that our preferences and needs directed the
preferences and needs directed the
preferences and needs directed the evolution of the chicken chickens today
evolution of the chicken chickens today
evolution of the chicken chickens today are larger they lay more eggs and just
are larger they lay more eggs and just
are larger they lay more eggs and just so you know those roasted chickens you
so you know those roasted chickens you
so you know those roasted chickens you get at the deli those things are not
get at the deli those things are not
get at the deli those things are not normal they’re actually bred to live
normal they’re actually bred to live
normal they’re actually bred to live just a few weeks and grow these
just a few weeks and grow these
just a few weeks and grow these ginormous breasts so that we can put
ginormous breasts so that we can put
ginormous breasts so that we can put them on our salads humans really do have
them on our salads humans really do have
them on our salads humans really do have strange preferences and needs and
strange preferences and needs and
strange preferences and needs and there’s also no limit to the amount of
there’s also no limit to the amount of
there’s also no limit to the amount of religious responsibility that we will
religious responsibility that we will
religious responsibility that we will put on our animals the chicken being no
put on our animals the chicken being no
put on our animals the chicken being no exception
chickens are actually considered sacred
chickens are actually considered sacred in many cultures which you think would
in many cultures which you think would
in many cultures which you think would be a good thing but it actually hasn’t
be a good thing but it actually hasn’t
be a good thing but it actually hasn’t turned out all that well for them even
turned out all that well for them even
turned out all that well for them even today in certain religious ceremonies
today in certain religious ceremonies
today in certain religious ceremonies the chicken is used and sometimes they
the chicken is used and sometimes they
the chicken is used and sometimes they come out alive and sometimes they don’t
come out alive and sometimes they don’t
come out alive and sometimes they don’t but if that sounds strange or foreign to
but if that sounds strange or foreign to
but if that sounds strange or foreign to you
you
you consider the idea that we actually all
consider the idea that we actually all
consider the idea that we actually all do kind of believe that chickens are
do kind of believe that chickens are
do kind of believe that chickens are here to save us and if that sounds
here to save us and if that sounds
here to save us and if that sounds strange to you ask yourself what you
strange to you ask yourself what you
strange to you ask yourself what you wanted the last time you were sick from
wanted the last time you were sick from
wanted the last time you were sick from chicken noodle to matzo ball to hot and
chicken noodle to matzo ball to hot and
chicken noodle to matzo ball to hot and sour soup there’s a curative chicken
sour soup there’s a curative chicken
sour soup there’s a curative chicken recipe in nearly every cuisine so this
recipe in nearly every cuisine so this
recipe in nearly every cuisine so this symbiotic relationship between humans
symbiotic relationship between humans
symbiotic relationship between humans and chickens it’s kind of one-sided but
and chickens it’s kind of one-sided but
and chickens it’s kind of one-sided but chickens still hang out with us they
chickens still hang out with us they
chickens still hang out with us they still feed and entertain us from
still feed and entertain us from
still feed and entertain us from childhood on maybe this sounds familiar
childhood on maybe this sounds familiar
childhood on maybe this sounds familiar to you and feel free to clap and sing
to you and feel free to clap and sing
to you and feel free to clap and sing Old MacDonald had a farm eieio and on
Old MacDonald had a farm eieio and on
Old MacDonald had a farm eieio and on that farm he had some chickens p IE i oh
that farm he had some chickens p IE i oh
that farm he had some chickens p IE i oh with a rump up here and a
with a rump up here and a
with a rump up here and a there here a baa there a baa everywhere
there here a baa there a baa everywhere
there here a baa there a baa everywhere a baa MacDonald had a farm eieio
isn’t that comforting
isn’t that comforting I started thinking you know there’s
I started thinking you know there’s
I started thinking you know there’s probably songs about chickens all over
probably songs about chickens all over
probably songs about chickens all over the world so I did a little internet
the world so I did a little internet
the world so I did a little internet search and I actually found the chicken
search and I actually found the chicken
search and I actually found the chicken song it’s from Syria in times of poverty
song it’s from Syria in times of poverty
song it’s from Syria in times of poverty and conflict the amazingly sustainable
and conflict the amazingly sustainable
and conflict the amazingly sustainable chicken is a godsend to us they have
chicken is a godsend to us they have
chicken is a godsend to us they have this ability to create eggs and meat
this ability to create eggs and meat
this ability to create eggs and meat with very little overhead on our part
with very little overhead on our part
with very little overhead on our part you see even though chickens have been
you see even though chickens have been
you see even though chickens have been domesticated for millennia they’re still
domesticated for millennia they’re still
domesticated for millennia they’re still pretty darn self-sufficient all that
pretty darn self-sufficient all that
pretty darn self-sufficient all that pecking and scratching it serves a very
pecking and scratching it serves a very
pecking and scratching it serves a very important purpose
important purpose
important purpose chickens are always looking for food and
chickens are always looking for food and
chickens are always looking for food and they almost always come home to roost
they almost always come home to roost
they almost always come home to roost which makes it easy to keep them safe
which makes it easy to keep them safe
which makes it easy to keep them safe and nearby I have chickens of various
and nearby I have chickens of various
and nearby I have chickens of various sizes and sometimes I’ll see my tiniest
sizes and sometimes I’ll see my tiniest
sizes and sometimes I’ll see my tiniest one asleep under the wing of a bigger
one asleep under the wing of a bigger
one asleep under the wing of a bigger one it’s heartwarming
one it’s heartwarming
one it’s heartwarming really
chickens have this nifty built-in down
chickens have this nifty built-in down coat and they actually use their bodies
coat and they actually use their bodies
coat and they actually use their bodies to keep the flock warm as a unit in
to keep the flock warm as a unit in
to keep the flock warm as a unit in their DNA is a knowledge that to survive
their DNA is a knowledge that to survive
their DNA is a knowledge that to survive as a species they have to take care of
as a species they have to take care of
as a species they have to take care of each other even in the coldest of nights
each other even in the coldest of nights
each other even in the coldest of nights we could probably take a cue from them
we could probably take a cue from them
we could probably take a cue from them on that one because even though there’s
on that one because even though there’s
on that one because even though there’s hundreds of different physical
hundreds of different physical
hundreds of different physical characteristics over all the different
characteristics over all the different
characteristics over all the different chicken breeds they still almost always
chicken breeds they still almost always
chicken breeds they still almost always find a way to roost together but I don’t
find a way to roost together but I don’t
find a way to roost together but I don’t want to fool you into thinking chickens
want to fool you into thinking chickens
want to fool you into thinking chickens are always nice and sweet to each other
are always nice and sweet to each other
are always nice and sweet to each other they’re not in fact if a chicken spots
they’re not in fact if a chicken spots
they’re not in fact if a chicken spots weakness in the flock they can be
weakness in the flock they can be
weakness in the flock they can be absolutely brutal if they see the color
absolutely brutal if they see the color
absolutely brutal if they see the color red they will Peck it incessantly just
red they will Peck it incessantly just
red they will Peck it incessantly just think about what that could mean for a
think about what that could mean for a
think about what that could mean for a chicken that might be injured and
chicken that might be injured and
chicken that might be injured and possibly bleeding or what it could mean
possibly bleeding or what it could mean
possibly bleeding or what it could mean for you if you happen to stroll into the
for you if you happen to stroll into the
for you if you happen to stroll into the chicken coop with open-toed shoes and
chicken coop with open-toed shoes and
chicken coop with open-toed shoes and red toenail polish let’s just say
red toenail polish let’s just say
red toenail polish let’s just say chickens are 80% sweet and 20% savage
kind of like us but we humans we love
kind of like us but we humans we love them we love them and a lot of us across
them we love them and a lot of us across
them we love them and a lot of us across the world we try to take good care of
the world we try to take good care of
the world we try to take good care of them when they’re not being cared for
them when they’re not being cared for
them when they’re not being cared for like most things it usually has to do
like most things it usually has to do
like most things it usually has to do with greed but there will always be
with greed but there will always be
with greed but there will always be those that care
we care not because of what we think we
we care not because of what we think we know about the chickens nature but
know about the chickens nature but
know about the chickens nature but because of what we desperately need to
because of what we desperately need to
because of what we desperately need to remain true in ours you know one thing I
remain true in ours you know one thing I
remain true in ours you know one thing I didn’t know about chickens and it was
didn’t know about chickens and it was
didn’t know about chickens and it was very surprising to me is the peace I
very surprising to me is the peace I
very surprising to me is the peace I feel when I’m among my flock I can be
feel when I’m among my flock I can be
feel when I’m among my flock I can be stressed out or worried about something
stressed out or worried about something
stressed out or worried about something and I go out into my chicken yard and
and I go out into my chicken yard and
and I go out into my chicken yard and magically those feelings are lifted and
magically those feelings are lifted and
magically those feelings are lifted and I’m not alone in this experience there
I’m not alone in this experience there
I’m not alone in this experience there are so many people that I’ve met on this
are so many people that I’ve met on this
are so many people that I’ve met on this journey that can attest to this and
journey that can attest to this and
journey that can attest to this and these are people that I thought I was so
these are people that I thought I was so
these are people that I thought I was so different from we could be so different
different from we could be so different
different from we could be so different politically socially even spiritually
politically socially even spiritually
politically socially even spiritually but we share the Peace of chickens
but we share the Peace of chickens
but we share the Peace of chickens people all over the world are
people all over the world are
people all over the world are experiencing this peace right now
experiencing this peace right now
experiencing this peace right now there’s somebody across the ocean
there’s somebody across the ocean
there’s somebody across the ocean seemingly so far away sitting among our
seemingly so far away sitting among our
seemingly so far away sitting among our common denominator feeling peace you see
common denominator feeling peace you see
common denominator feeling peace you see we humans were really not so different
we humans were really not so different
we humans were really not so different if people could just see that maybe the
if people could just see that maybe the
if people could just see that maybe the world really could be saved
at the very least I hope you never look
at the very least I hope you never look at chickens the same these ancient t-rex
at chickens the same these ancient t-rex
at chickens the same these ancient t-rex descendants have taken all that humanity
descendants have taken all that humanity
descendants have taken all that humanity can throw at them and there’s still a
can throw at them and there’s still a
can throw at them and there’s still a crucial part of our lives they can be
crucial part of our lives they can be
crucial part of our lives they can be amazing caregivers and protectors of
amazing caregivers and protectors of
amazing caregivers and protectors of each other and in their natures that
each other and in their natures that
each other and in their natures that sometimes necessary brutality that we
sometimes necessary brutality that we
sometimes necessary brutality that we can seek to understand and try not to
can seek to understand and try not to
can seek to understand and try not to emulate from what the chicken does and
emulate from what the chicken does and
emulate from what the chicken does and doesn’t do we can learn how to be more
doesn’t do we can learn how to be more
doesn’t do we can learn how to be more human basically don’t underestimate our
human basically don’t underestimate our
human basically don’t underestimate our feathered friends and if someone calls
feathered friends and if someone calls
feathered friends and if someone calls you a chicken stay thank you
you a chicken stay thank you
you a chicken stay thank you [Applause]
”
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