We do. Well, we have one in progress.
The Siblings co-op class made the Mummy Chicken. Why would we do such a weird thing, you ask? Just because we can. 
I got the instructions from DonnaYoung. She has daily step-by-step instructions, which are very easy to follow.
First you need a chicken. You don’t need a live one, where you have to kill it and then pull the brains out the nose, just like real Egyptians. Nope, all you need is one from the grocery store. They have already done the dirty work for you. Unless you live on a farm and want to try it the ancient way, then that’s ok too. Post pictures on your blog if you do. ok? Back to the chicken. Donna used a cornish hen, but I decided to use a very small chicken. It probably weighed a couple of pounds. Sorry, I forgot to read the label.
Next step is to cover the chicken in alcohol. I bought a large 32 oz bottle of rubbing alcohol. It was enough to cover the entire chicken. I did this early in the morning so it could do it’s job before class.
I placed it in a large strainer, to be used during class time. This is the funny part. I had this soaking chicken, in the open, for all to see, at co-op. Not one person asked why there was a raw chicken soaking in something strange. That’s homeschoolers for you; everything is considered educational.
Next we mixed the ingredients. Since this was a small chicken and larger than a cornish hen, I used eight cups of salt and four cups of baking soda. It covered the chicken well.
After the ingredients were mixed, I placed the chicken in another freezer bag and the kids covered it up.
Once the ingredients were in the bag with the chicken, I noticed the bag wasn’t big enough. I came prepared and had another bag that was bigger. I think it was a two gallon size. Anyhoo, it worked out well.
We placed the bag into a decorated tomb. This tomb is a modern day kitty litter container. The kids decorated with jewels the week before. I tried to paint it with gold sparkles, but it didn’t work. Now we wait.
Chocolatechic and I were deciding what a chicken may need for the after life. The only thing we could come up with was chicken feed and several roosters.
All we need now is an Egyptian name for the chicken. Got any suggestions?
Updated to add: The name of the chicken is Hentepsear.
12 responses so far ↓
1 chocolatechic // Sep 18, 2008 at 6:12 am
HapCHEEPsute.
LOL That’s good one.
chocolatechics last blog post..September 17
2 Kath // Sep 18, 2008 at 9:33 am
My kids have never done that! They always have to make a mummy out of paper and life sized.
Kaths last blog post..My Nephew And His Human…….
3 Elaine // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:49 am
Brain isn’t functioning in a creative manner this morning so I’m no help but I do like CC’s suggestion.
Elaines last blog post..Bible Study on Proverbs 31
4 Sheri // Sep 18, 2008 at 11:11 am
You’re da bomb!
My favorite of our chickens was Isabella.
Sheris last blog post..Twosey Tuesday
5 Donna Young // Sep 18, 2008 at 4:25 pm
The children sure are pitching in to do the project! =)
King Cluck
Hentepsear
Cluckmose I
6 Robin // Sep 18, 2008 at 6:20 pm
My girlies were just edumacated by your fine fine Mummy Chicken class.
Tut Tut Chicken Butt?
No, no I did not really just type that!
Cluckopatra
Mercy! It’s Xerxes!
Okay okay, I obviously am tired and ran out of ideas, looking at those!
7 Tressa // Sep 18, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Cool! That was one thing that I thought looked really cool but was never brave enough to attempt. Please give us updates so that I may live vicariously through you.
Tressas last blog post..I am so flattered!
8 tipper // Sep 19, 2008 at 11:24 am
My girls would flip over the mummy!!
9 Melanie // Sep 19, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I admit it. You’re cooler than I am.
Melanies last blog post..Homemade Hotdog Buns
10 RazorFamilyFarms.com // Sep 21, 2008 at 7:35 am
Indeed… what might a chicken need in the afterlife???
Excellent question, Michelle.
Excellent.
Blessings!
Lacy
11 JoAnn // Sep 21, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Cool! We just started our chicken mummy this week too. I just posted our first update this morning.
http://blog.homeschooldistractions.com/2008/09/pharaoh-cluckworthy-part-2.html
Have fun with your mummy. Our’s is called Pharaoh Cluckworthy.
JoAnns last blog post..Pretty Normal Day
12 Hentepsear | APPLIE’S PLACE // Sep 27, 2008 at 7:50 am
[...] Upon Hentepsear’s death, many grieved. To prepare her for the after life, her body was mummified according the customs of the [...]
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