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| CLICK and CLACK |
Despite zoning regulations, I've put chickens in the yard, but they are my sister's. I am babysitting.
With European roots, and still carved over there are the wonderful wooden pecking chickens. Folk art in motion. Yard bird Peckers!
The flat surface, or platform, is often "littered" with sawdust or specks of something resembling feed...wooden chickens are no smarter than the real ones, so they eat. Often the feed is painted on. Each bird is tied to a guide string which runs through the platform to a ball, which when rotated causes our favorite domesticated bird to move. Like a ping-pong paddle of peckers.
Although they are among the least expensive collectibles, one sold for over a grand at an auction a few years ago. It appears to have been a rare "dapple painted" Pennsylvania Dutch version.
At any given time, you may find a dozen or so listed on eBay. There is endless variety, but they are all birds on a string. The most scarce are antique hand-made versions, or like all toys, those in the original box I suppose.. The ornate, painted versions imported from Russia are bright (and loud… clacking is an important consideration) but lack the charm of hand-carved or primitive rudimentary versions which are less decorative but more authentic. Can I just type "lacking clacking" once?
One of the earliest manufactured plastic versions is "Little Bill's Chickens" which is smaller than most and marked by title on the handle, and it is this one which originated in my family and is lovingly preserved by Lil Sis.
Essentially, there are three versions! The common pecking head, the less often seen bobbing tail, and the far more intricate version with flapping wings! Use above to create your own cottage coop industry.
Collection of Pecking Chickens courtesy my Sister!
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