no one here but us chickens

[cptnobby]

Where does the saying 'there's no one here but us chickens' come from? My family have been using it for years but no one can remember where they first heard it??

[chimney]

According to my stepfather who is 63 and a half, therefore a mine of information, it comes from an american sketch from something similar to The Little Rascals where one of the characters was running away from a certain figure of authority and hid in a chicken coop, when the pursuer got to the chicken house he shouted:

"Is there anybody in here?"

to which the fugitive replied:

"There's no-one here but us chickens"

Over the years I have heard this anecdote adapted in to an Irish joke

[geo0939]

I know it as a song that Louis Jordan recorded way back, could have been the 40s or 50s. If you Google Louis Jordan I'm sure you will find it.
I would imagine that both answers might be correct.
PS chimney, I'm 67 therefore a pit of useless information.
:-)

[Vladtheinpaler]

Originally in an animated film 1939.
Gullivers travels.
I think this is the earliest I know.

Paul