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On April 27, 2004, Guinness World Records of London, England, officially declared Matilda to be World's Oldest Living Chicken. After receiving her title, Matilda lived one year, nine months, and eleven days. On February 11, 2006, she died of heart failure at the age of sixteen. An entrant in the Poultry Exhibit at the Alabama State Fair in October, 1990, this petite ivory-colored hen immediately caught the attention of Keith and Donna on the evening of October 18th. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, this extraordinary bird seemed totally at ease and not the least bit intimidated by the spectators who constantly walked past her cage. As part-time professional magicians, Keith and Donna (a.k.a. Mort The Mystifying and Donna) had been considering adding a bird to their magic act, and this chicken seemed a likely candidate. After much discussion, they decided to sleep on the idea and make a decision the next day. Returning the following evening, Keith and Donna paid full admission to the fair in order to gain admittance to the Poultry Exhibit and inquire about purchasing the chicken that had so strongly impressed them the night before. When they approached the poultry breeder; Steve Shaffield of Warrior, Alabama; he explained the chickens were being sold as matched pairs of roosters and hens at $15.00 per pair, but finally agreed to sell the one hen for $10.00, which Keith and Donna gladly paid. After accepting payment, Steve took an empty cardboard box from a stack and punched holes in it. He momentarily cuddled the chicken to his face, said his farewells, and gently positioned her inside the box, which he taped shut. As he handed the box to Donna, she assured him the chicken would receive only the best of care. Arriving home with the newest addition to their family, Keith and Donna were amazed to see the word "magic" scribbled in black ink on the side of the random box in which the chicken had been placed. Noticing this hen's enthusiasm for stepping side to side (as if she were waltzing) against the wire panels on the sides of her cage, Keith and Donna drew inspiration from "Waltzing Matilda", an old Australian folk song, and decided Matilda would be the perfect name for this graceful bird.
Following a brief training period, Matilda made her stage debut on June 5, 1991, for the Summer Reading Program at the Bessemer Public Library in Bessemer, Alabama. Keith magically produced an egg, cracked it, and dropped its contents into an empty pan. The lid was placed on top of the pan and then lifted to reveal Matilda in all her glory. The people in the audience were stunned, and their applause was thunderous. Matilda had proven herself trustworthy and continued to do so show after show, year after year.
When Matilda reached the age of eleven, her veterinarians; Randy and Rob Britt of Britt Animal Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama; told Keith and Donna that the average lifespan of a chicken is generally no more than eight years, so they should contact Guinness World Records to make them aware of Matilda’s longevity. The lengthy validation process to establish the record of World’s Oldest Living Chicken began when Keith and Donna contacted Guinness World Records on July 30, 2001, and was successfully completed on April 27, 2004. Upon Matilda’s receiving her title, Keith and Donna were presented with a congratulatory letter and certificate from Guinness World Records of London, England.
As a direct result of Matilda’s induction into Guinness World Records; she, Keith, and Donna were guests of Jay Leno on The Tonight Show in an episode that taped and aired on September 9, 2004. Sharing the spotlight with them were Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Jim Brown, Kirk Franklin, and Yolanda Adams. Much to everyone's delight; Matilda strutted on top of Jay's desk, nibbled bread crumbs, played with her favorite toy, and did a well-received impersonation of the NBC peacock. After returning home from The Tonight Show, Matilda began putting her celebrity status to use by becoming an ambassador of good will and appearing as an honored guest at numerous charitable events, many of which raised funds for animals in need.
In September 2005, Matilda began suffering from age-related health problems. Keith and Donna debated about retiring her from their magic act, but Matilda's veterinarians felt the sudden change to her normal routine might prove detrimental. A decision was reached to gradually wean her away from show business. On October 17, 2005, Matilda made her farewell magical appearance. With her usual finesse, she wowed the residents at Kirkwood By The River, a retirement community in Birmingham, Alabama. Keith and Donna thought it appropriate that their senior chicken's last public appearance was for senior citizens.
From September 8, 2005, until February 11, 2006, Matilda was under the constant care of Dr. Alvin Atlas, an avian specialist, at Riverview Animal Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. On September 22, 2005, Matilda made a public appearance to accept the Olivia Bearden Award, which was presented, in recognition of Matilda's many years of service to man and animal, by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Snowflakes are seldom seen in central Alabama, but they were falling softly, like fluffy white feathers, on the night of February 11, 2006, when Matilda succumbed to heart failure. At the time of her death, she was sixteen years old. Her quality of life had remained good up until the end, which had come peacefully to Matilda as she rested inside Keith's and Donna's home in Bessemer, Alabama.
On August 5, 2006, Matilda made magic history by becoming the first magician's animal to receive recognition from magicians, who mourned her passing and honored her contributions to the world of magic at a Broken Perch Ceremony conducted by the Southeastern Association Of Magicians and Magic City Magic Club (Ring 35, Judge Arnold Drennen Ring), which is the Birmingham, Alabama, chapter of the International Brotherhood Of Magicians. As part of the ceremony, Matilda's service to the State Of Alabama was acknowledged in a Commendation, which was issued by Governor Bob Riley and presented to Keith and Donna. On September 9, 2006, Matilda was inducted, by the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, into the Alabama Animal Hall Of Fame. The other two inductees were Gucci, a dog from Mobile, Alabama, and Muffin, a dog from Hueytown, Alabama. Why did Matilda live to such a ripe old age? There are several speculations: -She never produced eggs, so she was always even-tempered. In her sixteen years here on earth, Matilda truly made a positive difference. At churches, she evoked inspiration. At medical facilities and retirement homes, she coaxed smiles. At schools and libraries, she sparked inquisitiveness. At birthday parties, she stirred imagination. Keith and Donna are so thankful for having had the privilege of sharing their lives with Matilda. She will live forever not only in their hearts, but also in the hearts of the many people whose lives she touched and her legacy continues to touch. In describing Matilda, one of her fans said, "Matilda is a soul who just happens to be in a chicken's body." Keith and Donna could not agree more.
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Matilda, World's Oldest Living Chicken, (Born-1990 - Died-2006) is a fourteen-ounce Red Pyle bantam hen of Old English origin. She lived in Bessemer, Alabama, at the home of Keith and Donna Barton.
This page was designed and copyrighted in 2006 by Keith and Donna Barton of MADATAM Productions.
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