MNSSHP Parade Question on Chicken

[CarnotaurDad]

Our family absolutely loved the MNSSHP parade and thought it was a highlight of our last trip down to WDW. We even bought the CD with the music.

One question we had, for any who have seen the parade and might know, is why is there a chicken in the parade? All the other parts of the parade seem to fit the Halloween theme (Haunted Mansion, villians, candy, etc.) but this one seemed oddly out of place. It has become a source of mystery each time we listen to the parade music.

Is there any history to why there is a chicken in the parade? I'm positive the chicken is a Disney character but there isn't anything very "Halloween-ish" about her.

For those who haven't seen it, there is a barn float and there is a big chicken in the loft of the barn and she squawks along to "Ghost Riders in the Sky".

My thought was they had a float left over from some other parade and just said "what the heck, let's put it in the Halloween parade".

 

[smep013]

I do not have an answer, but when we hear the chicken on the CD, we laugh!

 

[MomofKatie]

Yes, she is a Disney character. Her name escapes me right now (Madame Cluck??), but she was featured on Mickey Mouse cartoons in the old days (30's-50's). I'm sure someone who knows all the particulars will chime in soon with the exact shorts she appeared in.

 

[KGH]

MomofKatie is right, that is where the chicken comes from, her name is Clara Cluck... also Clarabelle the Cow is there, and Horace the Horse (horse coller? something...) ... they are from Mickey's origional barnyard gang. Old school, but still fun!

 

[reginaastralis]

cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cl cluuuucckk!

I never understood why she's in the parade either ... but we crack up at that everytime as well.

 

[SnowWtch]

Could it be she's there to represent Frontierland? They have the singing ghost cowboys so why not the chicken?

 

[Brian_WDW74]

That segment of the parade portrays an old-fashioned Halloween country square dance. Other characters involved are Horace Horsecollar, Chip 'n' Dale, Clarabelle Cow, Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Bear, and The Country Bears.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Hi Brian, thank you so much for the answer. I learn something every day!

Thanks to the others for posting as well. Mystery solved!