a phase i've never heard before

[Miss Daisy]

"out pickin $H!T with the chickens"

what does this mean?

 

[dun]

It means poor, similar to not having a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of. Like the snake that was so poor he didn;t have a pit to hiss in

Also can mean a menial job

Depends on the context

 

[hillrancher]

It means dirt poor.

 

[grannysoo]

A snake so poor he didn't have a pit to hiss in.

That's a new one for me.