Okeydoke, not that I really want to know what you're doing with a rubber chicken early in the morning; BUT I am wondering what you do with a rubber chicken while performing. When I have one, I primarily use it as a sight gag or a weapon, but I know that there is SO much more you can do with this magnificent injected-rubber piece of goodness. So, what do YOU do with a rubber chicken?

I have been wondering the same thing. In fact I don't even have one (Don't boot me out - please) I do have the towel variety and it works for anything else chicken related that I need plus it does duel duty mopping up any messes. I guess that is why I never bought a rubber one cause I really don't know what I would do with it except wack someone over the head with it and I have no one to wack at (cept my husband) I use my frying pan on him.
Sara K.

I know some people use them as a tip jar... (Feed the chicken for a balloon, etc.) and some people use them as a popped balloon disposal container. . .

shave his head with a rusty razor???

It works on a drunken sailor.

I know some people use them as a tip jar... (Feed the chicken for a balloon, etc.) and some people use them as a popped balloon disposal container. . .

A tip jar? I like that idea! Of course it'd work on any animal(fake only, please) who's mouth you could open.

It'd certainly be clown themed to use a rubber chicken, though.

juggle them

Reminds me of a song Chicken in the bread pan pecking outdoors.

You throw them at Svengoolie!

When I was in elementary school, we used rubber chickens for Kapparot.
Kapparot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapparot)
http://www.vosizneias.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/chik1.jpg

Are you kidding me? My rubber chicken -- I mean chickenS (I have a herd of them) are like my best friends. Seriously, dude, your life hasn't begun until you experience the joys of the rubber chicken. I don't have time right now to even begin to tell you everything you can do with your rubber poultry, but I will return to share the light. In the mean time, raise your cup of Diet Dr. Pepper in honor of the rubber chicken!

Years ago, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a hobo clown named Perry got arrested for selling illegal substances he was hiding in his rubber chicken. True story, unfortunately.

AZ did you eat it(the rubber chicken) at the Yom Kippur feast lol

Next thing you know, TSA won't allow them on airplanes!

You fast on Yom Kippur.

Sorry I meant the Pre-

Share with me. I bought one years ago because everyone MUST own at least one rubber chicken, but I never figured out what the heck to do with it. I ended up hanging it from the ceiling in my kitchen.

I glued rabbit ears to mine and pull it out of a hat. Another thing you can do is have one rolled up and when you bring up an assistant act as though you are pulling it out of his pocket, and ask what is he doing with that.

Here are links to two old threads about how to enjoy your rubber chicken.

http://www.clown-forum.com/props-gags/1983-rubber-chicken.html

http://www.clown-forum.com/newbies-clowning/1666-fun-rubber-chicken.html

The great thing about rubber chickens is that they are just plain funny -- even if you do nothing with them. It's fun to make a big deal out producing something -- say a rabbit or a dog -- and then pull out a rubber chicken instead. And they are so easy to hide in your pocket, up your sleeve, or even in your hat.

For walk arounds, you can take a box of "Chicken Helper" and stick a rubber chicken through it. It's fun to do this when walking through a hospital or nursing home at dinner time. You can ask the patient/resident if they might prefer chicken helper to whatever is on their plate. (Warning: they might take you up on your offer.)

This isn't for everyone, but here's what I would do with a rubber chicken. I'd use it for a hankie vanish. Just the standard, over exposed TT vanish, but with the chicken.

Make a big to-do about the highly trained animal assistant for this next amazing trick. Bring out the chicken. Hand him to a volunteer to hold while explaining the trick. Chuck the chicken is holding my special handkerchief that I need for this trick. Only, he isn't. After lots of looking in the case and being silly, ask Chuck where it is. He ate it.

Here's the part that would slay 3rd graders and disgust parents. There's a little corner of the hankie poking out of a slit cut under the chicken's tail. Pull the hankie out, mugging about how gross it is. Do the vanish, make a big production about how horrible it is to shove this sullied hankie into my hand. Ew!

When it is revealed as being gone, the kid who is holding the chicken is asked to hand Chuck over. I can reach into his mouth and pull out the hankie making a big deal about how this silly chicken needs to stop eating my hankies.

Note- I am brainstorming this as I type. I don't currently own a rubber chicken. But I'm going to order one soon. And work on this routine until it is smooth. I like this one.

I think the real question to ask isn't how can I use a rubber chicken, but rather how can I use a rubber chicken to change a routine I already know? Look at it that way and see what you can come up with. Any hack with a magic set can shove a silk in his fist and make it vanish. How can a rubber chicken make that a better trick?

For a C&R rope routine, the chicken can check the rope to verify that it is not gimmicked. Tie the chicken up by accident and do some silliness about getting him loose. For small-size linking rings, the chicken can be handed the linked pair. Hang them from his neck. Might need a stick in the neck, though. Use it to do a dye-tube routine where you shove one silk into the mouth and pull a different color out. You decide whether to pull it out of the mouth or somewhere else. Obviously I am biased toward magical applications. But juggling a rubber chicken as one of your clubs would be wonderful. Put it on a stick and balance it if you do balancing tricks. In duos, use the chicken to smack the other guy instead of a slapstick. Do a snake basket routine with a rubber chicken coming out of the basket instead of a snake. Use it as a puppet for a silly puppet routine. Do you have a food-based skit? Put the chicken into that. A hobo clown could have a bindle (how many hobos even use bindles anymore?) with a chicken hanging out of it. Dress it up in clothes that match yours. Why? Well, why not?

Above all, be creative.

-Patrick

The visual joke of a rubber chicken still gets a great laugh from an audience of kids. I have no idea why. Almost none of them have ever seen a plucked chicken carcass. Here is even an odder fact about rubber chickens - different styles elicite different responses.
During last years school show tours a rubber chicken appeared twice in the show unannounced. Once chucked up from behind the set another another time crossing back and forth through the puppet window.

Classic RC - yellow with red comb and good color, http://miyagi.sg/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/rubber-chicken.jpg Generated the best overall laugh in test presentation.
Additional thoughts; Classic RC range in size from 8-23 inches. I find the 23 inche gives me the best visual for audiences of 250+. Also the Classic holds liner form better when thrown. Classic RC will hold head and feet erect. Filled with some poly-fill and they are very sturdy. Can be used as a substitute puppet.

Flat RC - cheaper version, is rubber but is dimensionally challenged, http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/unbranded/r/unbranded-rubber-chicken.jpg Stimulates ohs and some mild laughter. Half the audience would not react in testing during school shows.
Additional thoughts; This is a cheap version of the rubber chicken. It seems lifeless and lacks personality (which is odd when a rubber chicken is suppose to emulate a dead chicken anyway). Structurally they do not hold form when thrown.

Colored RC - odd and new variation on the clasic rubber chickent. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511vq49LLxL._SL500_AA300_.jpg When used during show the audience didn't know what the heck it was.
Additional thoughts; When introduced as a rubber chicken, they do get some laughs. Look great if you use three or more, as in juggling, relay races, open a suit case and rubber chickens fall out, etc

Screaming RC - Rubber chicken with squeeze activated clucking and a "i'm getting an anal probe" expression on it's face. 12" Shrilling Screaming Rubber Chicken Squawkin Dog Toy - eBay (item 230487529991 end time Jun-20-10 18:30:30 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/12-Shrilling-Screaming-Rubber-Chicken-Squawkin-Dog-Toy-/230487529991?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35aa209a07) In the show recived the 2nd best reaction. The facial expression seamed a bit intimidating to the 5-6 yr olds.
Additional thoughts; This is a fun parade gauge. You can do a conversation with it and deliver all the fowl jokes you can come up with. Structurally this one holds up the best when handling. Often sold as dog toys.

other info:
Book: Human Kinetics Chicken and Noodle Games Book price $32.95

Human Kinetics Chicken and Noodle Games Book (http://booleandeals.com/product/Human-Kinetics-Chicken-and-Noodle-Games-Book.html)

Are you still with me? Now for the toughest question of all; Where did the rubber chicken come from? Why is a dead carcass funny? Is the humor of the rubber chicken internationally recognized?

I am very excited about this book that Toby recommended (Human Kinetics Chicken and Noodle Games), although I thought the $32.95 price tag was a bit high. I just found it for under $15 at Amazon and ordered a copy.

This reminded me of a relay race that features rubber chickens. The kids dress up in grilling mitts and aprons, run to the frying pan, flip the rubber chicken in the pan, and run back to the line to hand over their grilling attire for the next in line. The kids love a good rubber chicken BBQ!

I have found that from time to time, while on break, I'll head over to the local coffee shop to grab a coffee between shows. Going into a coffee shop in costume is already grabbing attention and second looks. I love the expression on some of their faces. When I get to the cashier, who more times than not is having a hard time hiding a grin or a giggle, I place my order. I'm then asked for whatever the cost is, so now I get to have some fun, I start patting myself down as iff looking for my change, start rummaging in my pockets as I start to pull unusual objects out of my pockets and laying them on the counter, scarfs, horn, balls, balloon, whatever I happen to have. No money but a pile of stuff on the counter, they are usually laughing by this time and a small crowd is gathering. I sudden tell them Oh Ya, by the way, do you have change for a chicken, at which point I pull out my rubber chicken and try to hand it to them. You can imagine the reaction as I try to offer the chicken as payment.
I've gotten more than a few free coffees on this little time waster. Gives them a smile and is definitely something out of the norm for them.

I fill the rubber chicken with tlac powder and after i produce it i squeeze it infront of the children and a cloud of white powder is created... good laugh

Here is a gag I've seen advetised for years. Always tempted to buy but haven't. (One of my self imposed prop buying rules is I must have 3 routines for any prop I pay for.)
Any ideas or have you ever seen this thing in action
Super Comedy Chicken-Prop - Decorations & Props (http://www.halloweenexpress.com/super-comedy-chickenprop-p-8679.html?)

(One of my self imposed prop buying rules is I must have 3 routines for any prop I pay for.)
Any ideas or have you ever seen this thing in action
Super Comedy Chicken-Prop - Decorations & Props (http://www.halloweenexpress.com/super-comedy-chickenprop-p-8679.html?)

THREE routines! Yikes, I would have saved a bundle of cash if I had followed your rule, Toby. I am impressed. Well, I do NOT follow the "three routines" rule, and I want this rubber chicken.

It is self imposed. It hearkens back to my early clown days when I didn't have 2 five dollar bills to rub together, Romain noodles and saltines crackers were a gourmet meal and what I was paid to work didn't matter, just as long as I was working. Wouldn't want to relieve those times but in retrospect they were fun, but then as humans we generally remember the good times and forget the bad, generally.
The chicken in the add probably is made of cloth. For the price, I can't imagine it is rubber.

I will do my best to resist the temptation to purchase the giant chicken, just as I have (thus far) managed not to blow a hundred bucks on this:

http:///www.greatbigstuff.com/pickle.html (http://www.greatbigstuff.com/pickle.html)

Not sure how long I can live without the monster pickle though.

You could probably make one of those giant pickles. How about using that expandable foam stuff?
Sara K.

I used to have a rubber chicken :D infact it used to squeak when you squeezed it! I might still have it somewhere but the squeaker's broken. I think the weapon gag is best. "I've got a chicken and I'm not afraid to use it!" I love doing that. But you could also pretend it's your pet and tell kids to stroke it. I did that once when I got it out to show the kids in my street and one girl even gave it a kiss!

I attached a blue cord around the neck and offer a nice meal of chicken cord on blue.:D

You could probably make one of those giant pickles. How about using that expandable foam stuff?
Sara K.

In the words of E.T.......OUCH!

rubber chicken wings anyone?

Ah.........the rubber chicken.........a wonderful friend........I like to dress mine up.......chicken and dressing..........and of course we do our most favorite dance, the Chicken Dance......I have a rubber chicken and also one that is all ready stuffed......he actually makes chicken noises and you can chicken chuck him across the room or lawn..........and let's not forget those little "chicklets" that follow my chicken........those are wee little chickens that can be put into a Chicklets box..........a leather jacket on my chicken.........yes, that could be a biker chick.........but hey........you can dress them anyway you want.........Hawaiian shirt, perhaps?

Punkin

I HAVE HAD ON MY TO DO LIST::( (for a year! :-( )
"Rubber Chicken Reveal...
Put a thumb loop made of fishing line around a chikken leg.
(as you) Put thumb into loop, Do some misdirection
when the crowd is looking one way
you whip out your chicken.
Tah dah !:o

{advanced magic lesson}
crossing gaze
before you make the misdirection...
look very hard in the spot that the chicken will occupy in 2 'beats'.
While you look in this soon to occupied yet obviously empty,
move the objects to make the misdirection, into position,
fer instance...
A silk

Then look with great intensity at the Silk (or whatever)
Cause the Misdirection!
whip out the chicken
Then look with great energy at the Chicken.

React!! rock weight back onto heels, take up space with your arms...
Look (really look at chicken) at chicken, check in with the chicken,
Mug to audience. Check to see if chicken is real... Mug to audience.
Have a dramatic moment with a big -tent filling- physical movement.

Okeydoke, not that I really want to know what you're doing with a rubber chicken early in the morning; BUT I am wondering what you do with a rubber chicken while performing. When I have one, I primarily use it as a sight gag or a weapon, but I know that there is SO much more you can do with this magnificent injected-rubber piece of goodness. So, what do YOU do with a rubber chicken?


I have no idea but ask a smart clown not me........:p