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sionnach commented on the word tornado-plucked chicken
One of the peculiarities often left in the aftermath of a tornado is the tornado-plucked chicken – alive, but stripped of most, if not all of its feathers. This phenomenon was a rich source of myth and superstition in days gone by. A number of possible explanations have been offered over the years, including low-pressure systems at the heart of tornadoes and electric charges in the air. The most likely explanation is ‘flight-moult’, a defensive stress response that causes the chicken to shed its feathers. This way, potential predators are left with a mouth full of feathers instead of fresh chicken.
December 7, 2008