How to Make a Chicken Mummy

A chicken mummy makes a great science project. Teach your children the basics of mummification.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Small roasting chicken
• 10-12 containers of salt
• Large zippered storage bags
• Olive oil
• Spices
• linen or cotton strips
• white school glue

1. Remove heart, giblets and neck from your chicken. Wash and thoroughly dry the chicken.
2. Fill the chicken's cavity with salt and place the chicken in a zippered bag. Completely cover the chicken with salt and close the bag, being careful to squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible.
3. Every three or four days, check the salt. As it draws moisture out of the chicken, it will become very wet. You should change the salt when it becomes damp.
4. Keep changing the salt at regular intervals. Your chicken should be dry in about a month.
5. After your chicken is dry and odor-free, wipe the salt away with a damp paper towel. Rub the chicken down with olive oil and sprinkle with aromatic spices such as cinammon, nutmeg and cloves.
6. Using sticky glue (white school glue is fine), wrap your mummy with cotton or linen strips. You can spray your wrapped mummy with lacquer to keep it clean.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to make a sarcophagus for your mummy.
• The chicken may smell as it dries, so you may want to double bag the chicken to contain the smell.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water every time you handle the chicken or damp salt.