For the most part after the heads were removed from the chickens they were held onto so they couldn't 'run away'.  Bill felt that if you let them run it would damage the meat or break the wings.  After most of the birds were done though a few were let go and the Scouts learned the meaning of the phrase "running around like a chicken with it's head cut off".  They were all surprised by how far and how fast a chicken could go without it's head.