“Chicken feet” is obviously supposed to be “chicken feed”, meaning low level relatively insignficant information used to increase a double agent’s credibility in the eyes of the target.
“Chicken feed” has been used as a synonym for a paltry sum, at least since 1836, according to Merriam-Webster.
I was wondering about “chicken feet”, but what do you expect from someone who says the following?
“The British were terrified. They were like, ‘Someone has sneaked past our lines....
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They were like?!
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I think they got it right... "chicken feet"
When you pluck, clean & cut a chicken for food, only the "chicken feet" are truly "useless"....
The even the neck, liver, gizzard, etc., ...can be turned into stock, "giblets", soup or stew,...
---by-products of the whole bird.
Carry the metaphor into WWII espionage-speak....
All intel/information is useful...
The big meaty pieces make a fine meal.
Some of the bits and pieces of info have to be combined into "by-products"... but still have some use.
Yet....
...intel/info "chicken feet"-- are still genuine parts of the "whole bird" -- yet remain useless for consumption....
Just food for thought... pun intended....
You could be quite right, also.
Have a great day