1. ruffle sb’s / a few feathers 是习语,意思是“惹恼(某人),得罪(某人),使(某人)不满”,相当于 offend someone。句中的 no feathers were ruffled 实际上是 ruffle sb’s / a few feathers 的变体(用于被动语态)。no feathers were ruffled by this departure from tradition 的大意是:这种与传统的背离并没有引起人们的不满。
2. chicken 在此用作引申义,表示“胆小鬼,懦夫”。