What the cluck?

If you're like me, you're very excited about May because it's International Respect for Chickens Month. Seriously. I can't make this kind of stuff up.

Among the events: International Respect for Chickens Day is May 4, and celebrates the dignity, beauty and life of chickens and protests against the bleakness of their lives in farming operations.

Also, United Poultry Concerns urges people to do an ACTION for chickens on or around May 4 — "leafleting on a busy street corner, tabling, writing a letter to the editor, holding an office party or classroom celebration, showing the movie Chicken Run, or simply talking to people about the plight and delight of chickens."

In honor of the event, Minneapolis-based Chicken Run Rescue is holding its Third Annual Chicken Calendar Photo Contest to capture the beauty of chickens in a photograph. On May 8, UPC will leaflet people on the Lafayette Park sidewalk across from the White House, urging everyone to "Show Compassion and Stick Up For Chickens!"

I guess that's different from this past Saturday's Broadway SpringFest here in Columbus, where you could get "chicken on a stick."

For the record, I don't merely respect chickens. I love them. Especially honey barbecued.