in the 2020s, we will be amazed—and quite frankly appalled—if chicken grooming doesn't make a major comeback 
These magnificent lithographic prints are from ‘Cassell’s Book of Poultry’, published in 1880, which we hold in our library.
It’s a fabulous, ground-breaking work – a genre-defying masterpiece of chick-lit.
It’s a fabulous, ground-breaking work – a genre-defying masterpiece of chick-lit.
The text flies through the world of chickens with a passion and devotion that may never be matched. And it starts as it means to continue: relentlessly.
Every book should begin by refusing to apologise for existing.
Every book should begin by refusing to apologise for existing.
exactly, and yet we haven't even really gotten started
The book puts the chic in chicken, and then does it again, and again, until all we're left with is a chic-chic-chic-chic running sound like a very stylish train, which is currently about to drop off even more fabulous poultry passengers at the train station of your life.
the poultry isn't playing
This is a pair of Houdans (a kind of chicken known for the butterfly-shaped combs on their heads). They won prizes all over the country—at Manchester, Birmingham, and Crystal Palace—for their powerful, wrathful gaze, which could break bricks. Like lasers-for-eyes, but real.
we see you
next time you're at the hairdressers, and they ask you what you'd like, please ....show them this
These two are Silver Spangled Polish chickens. That's a lot of words, but, it's a lot of style, which go hand in hand, like a secret handshake guarded closely by the chicken elite.
Also: Gold Spangled Polish chickens.
They look very similar, other than, you know, the gold part.
They look very similar, other than, you know, the gold part.
Why are they called 'Polish'?
'We believe every writer on poultry, without exception, agrees in the opinion that the name given to the varieties of fowls which are grouped under the general title of Poland or Polish has no possible connection with Poland'.
NICE.
'We believe every writer on poultry, without exception, agrees in the opinion that the name given to the varieties of fowls which are grouped under the general title of Poland or Polish has no possible connection with Poland'.
NICE.
Instead, 'Polish' refers to their polls, or crests.
There's so much variety across breeds, and texts like these are magnificent because of their depth, precision and erudition.
The images tell thousands more words in books that are already of thousands and thousands of words.
There's so much variety across breeds, and texts like these are magnificent because of their depth, precision and erudition.
The images tell thousands more words in books that are already of thousands and thousands of words.
And we saved the best until last.
His name?
PSYCHE,
the Dark Brahma Pullet, First of His Name, King of Cocks, Khalasar of the Coop, Protector of the Pasture, the Aegis of the Egg, and first place in the 1871 Birmingham show.
His name?
PSYCHE,
the Dark Brahma Pullet, First of His Name, King of Cocks, Khalasar of the Coop, Protector of the Pasture, the Aegis of the Egg, and first place in the 1871 Birmingham show.
this is one chicken you will never get in trousers
please be careful around demogorgons
same
exactly except we have reason¹ to believe the chickens fashioned these looks themselves
