Back in the 1950s a flock if starlings brought down a passenger jet. In response, the Pratt and Whitney engine plant in East Hartford CT developed an air cannon chambered for 3-4lb chickens used to shoot birds into engines as part of quality control.
As a concession to humane behavior the engineers grudging agreed to use dead chickens.
Possible urban legend:
They sold a chicken gun to British Railways, for testing the windscreen on a new high-speed train. Railways were alarmed that the chicken penetrated the windscreen, the engineer’s seat, and a couple of bulkheads behind. They asked for help, and after explaining their entire test protocol were advised to thaw the chicken first.