Flannery O’Connor trained her chicken to walk backwards

Author Flannery O’Connor died on this day in 1964.

She may be most widely known for her short stories, including the collections A Good Man Is Hard to Find, and Other Stories and The Complete Stories, but she claimed (perhaps tongue-in-cheek) to be prouder of a different achievement. 

As a little girl, O’Connor had a pet chicken that she taught to walk backwards.

News of this bird spread beyond her small hometown, and Pathé News sent a crew down to record it for posterity. 

So if you want to watch a young O’Connor with the chicken that launched a lifelong fascination with birds, the clip is below for your viewing pleasure.
 

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