ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas (AP) -- This chicken had lips, just not her own.
A retired nurse saved her brother's chicken, Boo Boo, by administering mouth-to-beak resuscitation last week after the fowl was found floating face down in the family's pond.
Marian Morris said she hadn't had any practice with CPR in years, but she was interested to see if she "still had it."
"I breathed into its beak, and its dadgum eyes popped open," Morris said. "I breathed into its beak again, and its eyes popped open again. I said, 'I think this chicken's alive now. Keep it warm."'
She said she did not know how to find a pulse on a chicken.
Boo Boo's owners, Jackie and Becky Calhoun, put her in a large cardboard box containing a grain feeder and water. They also placed a heater nearby.
The chicken is called Boo Boo because she is easily frightened. The Calhouns thought Boo Boo was startled and flopped into the pond.
------
in my first grade reading group, mrs. orloski asked us all what type of animal we would be if we could choose to be any animal at all. matt k. said he'd like to be a bear. chris said he'd be dog. pretty predictable responses for first graders. i of course said dolphin, the freaking gayest response EVER. poor little emily lorenzo chose a chicken. mrs. orloski burst into condescending laughter and ridiculed emily for making such a "stupid" choice. "what if someone wanted to EAT you!??", she cackled. i always felt bad for not standing up for emily's chicken morphing fantasy. a little piece of her spirit died that day in reading group. i hope that somehow, emily hears of boo boo's inspiring story and breathes the life back into her proverbial beak.
