Chicken Salad from Chicken Scratch; Monkey See/Do; No Good Deed

[sagehen]

(from Bapopik:
>YOU CAN'T MAKE CHICKEN SALAD FROM CHICKEN SCRATCH<)
~~~~~~~~
 - Doug Wilson writes:
>
>I've almost always heard the aphorism with "shit". I think I've heard it
>once or twice with something else too, but I can't remember what, maybe
>"feathers" or so, not "scratch".
 ~~~~~~~~~~
Since this is a play on the frequently-used expression to "make [something]
from scratch," (i.e., make it from basic ingredients instead of a
packaged, prepared mix, or other dodge)  it loses its point by substituting
"feathers" or "shit" or "feed."
A. Murie