Author Topic: Can chickens fly? (Read 1208 times)

-SR- · « **Reply #15 on:** May 13, 2007, 05:17:31 PM »

Go Yankees!

-SR-:aok

SuperDud · « **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2007, 06:02:16 PM »

The longest known chicken flight was around 13 secs. I say if they can get up and get any distance then that is flight. Nothing to be proud of by most bird standards. But hey, it's better than nothing.

jon · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2007, 06:09:02 PM »

i grew up on a dairy farm. we raised chickens to eat and also for my relitives, and also kept some in the in the coop year around for eggs.about 100 to 150 per year, were raised from chicks. If you did not clip yhe wing feathers on the young ones they would fly ovet the 8' fence around the chicken yard. once they got older they were then too fat to fly over the fence. so yes they can fly short distances.

vorticon · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2007, 06:14:57 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by yanksfan
Wow!
Just goes to show there is much more to this whole chicken thing then I had given thought to.

I really never expected a logical factual explanation, tho I must say the answers receaved "well done".

but isn't anyone going to mention anything about my 105mm howitzer flight program for frozen chickens?

I mean common, i set it up somebody please slam dunk it.

I'm kinda disappointed.

I mean picture it, chicken, howitzer........Funny?

I'm sad now.....it was funny.....it was.....the penguin was too....as much as i hate to say it....it was....not as funny as a howitzer firing a frozen chicken, but funny....

ok,

maybe not that funny......but... i'll be back....with something funny....I will,....you'll see....

my wife said it was funny....my daughter too.....and they have no sence of humor.....

it was......"SNIFF".....funny............

blkmgc · « **Reply #19 on:** May 13, 2007, 06:15:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by mtnman
Yes, chickens can fly. They don't do it often or for very far for a couple of reasons.

Chickens belong to a group of birds that are ground-oriented, and generally only fly to evade predators and to get into a safe roost. Birds that are similar to chickens in this respect are pheasants, turkeys, quail, grouse, prairie chickens, and others.

Birds that fit into this category generally have "white" muscle comprising the major flight muscles (white meat).....

MtnMan

I've never seen a Pheasant or Grouse with white breast meat.

and yes, chickens can fly.

jon · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2007, 06:26:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by blkmgc
I've never seen a Pheasant or Grouse with white breast meat.

In wisconsin we have the ruffed grouse and yes it has white breast meat;)

tedrbr · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2007, 07:32:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Hajo
Brings to mind the Turkey Drop episode of WKRP in Cinci. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Yep. A CLASSIC for one and all. You can't bring up one like that without the linky though......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZByndN_ffyw&eurl

http://radio.about.com/library/wkrpturkeydrop.ram

mtnman · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2007, 08:52:50 PM »

Here's an exerpt from a research essay for you blkmgc-

"The flight muscles of most birds are red in color ("dark meat") because of the presence of many fibers containing red oxygen-carrying compounds, myoglobin and cytochrome. They are also richly supplied with blood and are designed for sustained flight. Lighter-colored muscles ("white meat"), with many fewer such fibers, are found in pheasants, grouse, quail, and other gallinaceous birds. These are also well supplied with blood, are apparently capable of carrying a heavy work load for a short time, but fatigue more rapidly. If a quail is flushed a few times in a row, it will become so exhausted it will be incapable of further flight."

Copyright ® 1988 by Paul R. Ehrlich, David S. Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye.

Go here for the whole shebang (interesting read...)

http://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Adaptations.htm

Just as an FYI, the pheasant I cut up earlier today definately had "white" breast muscles. Not as "white" as a chicken, maybe, but definately "whiter" than a duck.

As a falconer (I train and hunt with birds of prey) I have an above-average interest and knowledge of birds. I can honestly say that the AH forum was the last place I thought I'd be discussing avian musculature though! Very cool!

Back to the cannon / frozen chicken thing, it was kinda funny. I saw something similar but with raw chickens on MythBusters firing chickens at airplanes to simulate bird collisions and associated damage.

I had a blackpowder cannon that I built a few years ago (sold it recently). It had a 1" bore, and fired lead balls (.98 diameter). We tried firing frozen hotdogs and bratwurst's out of it. It worked fine, but was not all that exciting. When fired, the frozen brat looks JUST LIKE the lead balls. That's because you can't see either one. Big bang, lotsa smoke, and a puff of dust downrange. The brats didn't fly all that straight though. Non-frozen, they turn into a more "liquid" state, lol.

MtnMan

Bubbajj · « **Reply #23 on:** May 14, 2007, 03:30:53 AM »

Usually in P-51s.

+1

blkmgc · « **Reply #24 on:** May 14, 2007, 05:04:58 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by mtnman
Not as "white" as a chicken, maybe, but definately "whiter" than a duck.

MtnMan

I think thats where we had our wires crossed. Definately not white like a chicken or any other domesticated bird..but definately not as dark as duck or Goose. Was starting to question what I've been seeing for the past 25 years or so of hunting. hehe.

yanksfan · « **Reply #25 on:** May 14, 2007, 05:44:25 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by mtnman

Back to the cannon / frozen chicken thing, it was kinda funny. I saw something similar but with raw chickens on MythBusters firing chickens at airplanes to simulate bird collisions and associated damage.

I had a blackpowder cannon that I built a few years ago (sold it recently). It had a 1" bore, and fired lead balls (.98 diameter). We tried firing frozen hotdogs and bratwurst's out of it. It worked fine, but was not all that exciting. When fired, the frozen brat looks JUST LIKE the lead balls. That's because you can't see either one. Big bang, lotsa smoke, and a puff of dust downrange. The brats didn't fly all that straight though. Non-frozen, they turn into a more "liquid" state, lol.

MtnMan [/B]

Well this is really where I thought we would be headed.......but, thats ok, I try to keep it entertaining for every one...........just hope Dick Cheaney doesn't show up and shoot anyone in the face.

Ghosth · « **Reply #26 on:** May 14, 2007, 07:27:07 AM »

Yanksfan thats not flying thats "falling with style"

Yes chickens fly to get up to roost's at night or evade preditors, just not far or fast. Like humans some are couch potatoes, some are more athletic.

Yes Ruffed Grouse have white breast meat, and don't fly far.

Sharptail Grouse have darker breast meat and will often fly a half mile or more.

I think Canadian Goose is the Ultimate dark breast. And yes they can fly for DAYS . And have been clocked at 60 mph in level flight.

Grits · « **Reply #27 on:** May 14, 2007, 08:23:56 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by E25280
Yes.

Usually in P-51s.

Quote

Originally posted by Bubbajj
Usually in P-51s.

+1

BBZZZZZZTTT

Wrong. Chickens always fly La7s.

Casca · « **Reply #28 on:** May 14, 2007, 08:38:09 AM »

This exact dispute arose back when I was an aspiring aviator in the early 80s at Central Missouri State University. It was resolved by the expedient of obtaining a chicken and releasing it from a Taylorcraft at an altitude of 1000 feet AGL. I dislike cruelty to animals in any form but was not in a position to intercede before the fact. I can, however, report that the flight characteristics of this particular chicken approximated those of a set of car keys.

ColKLink · « **Reply #29 on:** May 14, 2007, 09:51:36 AM »

I'm faar more intersted in sheep aviation,...lemmie know when sheep fly ,.. I liked the post, humor is good medicine.