By P.C. Pethick
After a week of being cooped up in the foulest of fowl conditions at the SAW Gallery, Ottawa’s world-famous pair of chickens has been set free.
Pam Meldrum and Eric Wolf survived on vegetarian mash, water, and an endless barrage of questions from an impressively large fan club. There was nowhere for the chickens to shower or brush their teeth, but they were given the use of a curtained off port-a-pottie built into the cage.
The week-long poultry stunt was cooked up by Ottawa video artist Rob Thompson to raise awareness for animal rights in the food industry. It was an attempt to mimic the conditions of battery hens used to produce eggs.
Meldrum and Wolf were chosen from more than 70 other would-be chickens to take part in the stunt, which Thompson plans to turn into a documentary titled Wire.
Centretown News was at the SAW Gallery to document their week-long exploits which attracted media attention from around the world.
Day 1
The chickens entered the tiny cage at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon clad only in their shoes, a pair of long-johns, and sporty black toques.
The basement of the SAW Gallery was packed with journalists looking for interviews, camera crews adjusting their lights and an inquisitive public.
In the centre of it all, the chickens made themselves at home.
“Once it starts to get slow around here is when we’ll say ‘My God, what have we got ourselves into,’” said Wolf.
Day 2
After one night on the plywood floor the pair looked a bit peckish. But their exhaustion didn’t faze their determination.
“I’m really sort of exhausted,” said a dazed-looking Meldrum. “But I think it’s going to get a bit easier now that the first night is over.”
By the early afternoon, news organizations from Mexico, London and France had brought the story to an international audience.
“It’s just my luck I get involved with a project I can’t see because I’m stuck inside the project while it’s being broadcast,” said a chagrined Wolf.
Day 3
The odor emanating from the cage was strong by the third day, but Thompson’s chickens hung on.
“Once we saw it was 50 hours we knew we had it,” said Wolf. “If a 20 foot gap opens up in the floor, I’ll be here.”
Thompson was on hand throughout the week to keep an eye on his subjects.
“My purpose is to shoot a documentary,” said Thompson. “As for raising awareness, it seems to be working. It’s getting incredible amounts of media attention.”
Day 4
By the fourth day the two appeared to have gained a healthy contempt for the constant stream of reporters.
“I’m getting a little tired of all the attention we’re getting,” said Meldrum. “A lot of it’s for the wrong reason.”
Some critics of the project say the chickens have it easy compared to the much harsher conditions of battery hens. Still other critics say the whole thing is silly.
But Thompson shrugged off the criticism saying, “I couldn’t treat people the way you treat animals… I would go to jail if I did. It is purely something to get people thinking.”
Day 5
Wolf clapped his hands together as the numbers on the wall counting the hours spent in the cage turned to 97.
“Ninety-seven was the number I was waiting for,” said Wolf remarking there were less than three days to go.
With 71 hours to go the cage-life was obviously taking a heavy toll both mentally and physically. Wire imprints from leaning against the cage lined Wolf’s spine, and Meldrum spent many hours curled up to keep away pesky reporters.
Day 6
By the sixth day of the showcase, both chickens were vocal about the way media had misrepresented the chicken feat.
“They put two people in a cage; it went all around the world, and everyone pitied (us) the chickens,” said Wolf. “There could be a dog in here with us, but no one would care how the dog felt.”
Day 7
The two were in high spirits as the last 24 hours ticked away.
Meldrum longed for a nice, long massage while Wolf was day-dreaming about the Coffee Crisp delivered by one of his many fans.
They spent the last night with relatively little sleep, and both reported being tired and sore when they woke Saturday morning, but they held on through the final hours leading up to the 4 p.m. coop-breaking ceremony.
A quiet Meldrum sat in her corner answering questions with as few words as possible. An excited Wolf stole the show.
The buzz of an egg timer, and the clucking cheers of fans, loved ones and media representatives heralded their first few shaky steps. But after each received a cheque for $2,500 their look of exhaustion turned to one of triumph.