Are Chickens Cannibals and Do They Like Barbecue Sauce?
A true story
Photo credit: Elle Hiller
While living in South Carolina, the most off-the-wall things continue to happen to me. Things unlike any that would have happened to me while living in a college town up north.
I had a pretty bizarre experience at the barbecue I attended over the weekend.
It was a quintessential winter day in the Lowcountry – azure skies, a view of the golden marsh,  Bloody Mary in hand, and the comfort of a small bonfire to keep the chill at bay.
Two Rhode Island Red chickens strutted freely about the yard. Boudreaux the shiftless cat napped in a patch of sunshine between shady oaks, hung with curtains of Spanish moss.
Drawn to the fresh air and scenery, I fixed a plate of food and returned outside to eat at a picnic table. As I happily gnawed on a barbecued chicken leg, much to my surprise, the two Reds hopped up on the table and glared at me, clucking with menace.
I was afraid that they were going to peck my eyes out! – obviously, I have watched too many movies. Unnerved, I shooed them off the table.
As I processed what had just occurred, the irony of the situation dawned on me and I quickly lost my appetite. I tossed what was left of the chicken leg towards the trash barrel – but the shot fell short.
Like white on rice, both chickens converged on the remains and began pecking away at the leftover meat. I could not decide whether to laugh hysterically or be horrified.
I – briefly mind you – considered vegetarianism …