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Title details for What the Chicken Knows by Sy Montgomery - Wait list

What the Chicken Knows

A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird

by Sy Montgomery
Sy Montgomery
Audiobook
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Wait time: About 2 weeks
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0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A charming and eye-opening exploration of the special relationship between humans and chickens from Sy Montgomery, "one of our finest chroniclers of the natural world" (The New York Times).
For more than two decades, Sy Montgomery—whose The Soul of an Octopus was a National Book Award finalist—has kept a flock of chickens in her backyard. Each chicken has an individual personality (outgoing or shy, loud or quiet, reckless or cautious) and connects with Sy in her own way.

In this short, delightful book, Sy takes us inside the flock and reveals all the things that make chickens such remarkable creatures: only hours after leaving the egg, they are able to walk, run, and peck; relationships are important to them and the average chicken can recognize more than one hundred other chickens; they remember the past and anticipate the future; and they communicate specific information through at least twenty-four distinct calls. Visitors to her home are astonished by all this, but for Sy what's more astonishing is how little most people know about chickens, especially considering there are about twenty percent more chickens on earth than people.

With a winning combination of personal narrative and science, What the Chicken Knows is exactly the kind of book that has made Sy Montgomery such a beloved and popular author.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 5, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781797184678
      • File size: 65876 KB
      • Duration: 02:17:13

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Sy Montgomery is so joyful and enthusiastic while describing her adventures with her flock of chickens that listeners will want to stroke a hen and pick up a rooster just to participate in her positive view of the world. Montgomery is keenly observant and curious. She calls her chickens "the ladies," and she recognizes each hen's individual call and personality. She also cites studies demonstrating chicken intelligence but notes they will also mercilessly peck at an injured member of their flock. Montgomery's desire to restore the natural landscape can collide with her love for her chickens whenever a repopulated critter kills one. Her mixed emotions are obvious: She can't bring herself to be angry at a natural predator, yet she feels forlorn. A.B. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      March 7, 2025

      In her self-narrated latest, Montgomery (Secrets of the Octopus) presents the world of chickens, exploring the unique relationship between humans and these often-overlooked creatures. Montgomery, a celebrated naturalist, first began raising her backyard flock more than 20 years ago. Through her expressive narration, she brings out the distinct personalities of her chickens, each with its quirks--some are bold and social, while others are shy and reserved. Her voice adds depth to the storytelling, allowing listeners to appreciate chickens' surprising intelligence and complex emotional lives. She demonstrates that these birds are highly adaptive thinkers with the ability to recognize numerous other chickens and the capacity to use a wide variety of calls as they communicate. The audiobook blends scientific insight with Montgomery's reflections; it's both enlightening and heartwarming, revealing Montgomery's deep affection for her flock and the profound connections she's discovered among them. VERDICT This audiobook is a superb addition to Montgomery's rich portfolio of works on the natural world. Both educational and entertaining, it offers listeners a fresh perspective on chickens and highlights the author's skill in blending science with personal narrative.--Susan McClellan

      Copyright 2025 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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