09/19/08 Big Chicken

I've told horse stories and cow stories, even dog and a couple cat stories. I'm Jeff Keane; now I've got a chicken story for you right after this break. I know this is the American Rancher program where horse and cattle stories are more the norm and a chicken story doesn't sound like it fits, but chickens have been raised on a lot of family ranches over the years for eggs and meat. They can even be a tempting target for beginning ropers tired of roping posts and buckets. This chicken story is not about ranch chickens  this chicken was in the display case at a local meat sales shop years ago. One whole chicken was all the proprietor had left until the next shipment when a lady came into the store to buy a chicken. The owner took the chicken out of the case and held it over the counter in one hand for the lady to inspect. She said it was a nice looking bird, but she needed one a little larger since she was having company for dinner. The owner wanted to sell the chicken, but like I said he only had the one chicken left. Being a quick thinker he said I know what you need I have one in the back I'll get. In the back room the meat salesman spread the wings of the chicken, pinched the drumsticks plumper, pushed on the breast to widen it, placed the enlarged bird on a clean sheet of butcher paper and carried it out to the potential buyer with both hands. The lady was ecstatic  she said now that's more like it, but I'm not sure how many people are coming to dinner. I'll just take both chickens. I'm Jeff Keane.