Chicken

Description

Chicken introduces us to the surprisingly complex world of the chicken, tracing the evolution of jungle fowl and the domestication of chickens by humans. Annie Potts describes the ways in which chickens experience the world, form families and friendships, communicate with each other, and play, bond and grieve. The author also explores practices such as egg-rolling, the cockfight, wishbone-pulling and chicken-swinging rituals; and also provides a bestiary of bizarre supernatural chickens from around the world. Chicken meditates on the place of chickens in the world today, and includes a tribute to those who educate and advocate on behalf of these birds.

Annie Potts is an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

'In this brilliant book, Potts challenges us to see chickens as creatures who think and feel in complex ways all of their own ... This series notably mixes historical and cross-cultural research with gorgeous illustrations; Chicken is no exception.' - TLS 'This tasty book also chases the chicken through literature, film, painting (Magritte's hilariously sad chicken staring at an egg in an eggcup) and national symbolism (especially French). Potts notices, too, the emerging trend of "heroic chickens" and even "the avenging chicken", probably a reaction to increasing popular intolerance of battery farming.' - The Guardian