This documentary's title and description imply that the movie will at some point locate the chicken within multiple contexts: historical, biological, social, etc. In fact, it merely locates a handful of not particularly interesting people (in this context), each of whom has a different personal relationship to a chicken or a chicken story. My nine-year old, who loves documentaries, kept asking when we'd learn something about actual chickens. Point well taken. True, the movie shows us eggs and takes a brief look into a factory where eggs are laid and collected. By brief, I mean a minute of watching chickens eat food, and a later shot of a conveyor belt transporting eggs. There is no enlargement on why we see this at all, For example, no discussion of the shift from small independent farming to mass production. Or of chicken evolution. Or, really, of any research-based insight. The focus is really on people who can squawk like chickens, a guy whose grandfather had a headless chicken, a woman who dotes on her rooster, and so on. If you're feeling extremely passively voyeuristic and have a fever and so need about an hour's worth of barely related and not very compelling stories about people whose main claim to fame is having a charming little chicken story, then this is the movie for you. This state of mind might also work well with the general sloppiness or perhaps intentional disinterest in stitching a relevant narrative out of footage that seemed more random and aimless as the movie went on.

You know if it says PBS it will have quality, as far as documentaries go--but who would have thought an hour's worth of chicken fact, trivia, and homespun truth could be so entertaining! Having grown up around friends and neighbors who raised chickens in their backyards I know how amusing these feathered comedians can be. Yet, there is also something dignified about them as well. This documentary covers the whole scenario of where chickens are in the hearts of Americans. They are livestock, they are pets, they are sideshow wonderment,and they are noisy nuisances. They are also big business. Clever editing, reenactments, and filming techniques make this a keeper. We tend to watch it in winter, right around when the snow is lingering too long on the ground. Watching Cotton the Chicken taking a swim, or the drama of Valerie's rescue is enough to bring anyone out of the winter glums.

This was actually a great little project to work on and I had a great time doing it. I was contacted by the Sound Designer Paul Ottoson because he knew that I had done voice over recording in the past, as well as worked as an ADR recordist and Editor on several films. I spent many hours trying desperately to mimic the "feelings" of each chicken portrayed in this documentary. (Which by the way is no small task even for veteran voice over talents). Needless to say, I was very disappointed to finally get my own copy of this DVD only to find out that after 3 HOURS of ADR recording, I did NOT receive my credit for voicing ALL THESE CHICKENS! I know it's silly, but it meant something to me. Too bad , Mark.Kim Beltran (formerly Kim Bartlein) Voice Over

I have seen negative reviews of this very good film elsewhere that were the result of the title "misleading" viewers. While I'll grant that the title is a little quirky (just like the characters), the actual content is so interesting, funny and entertaining that all should be easilly forgiven. This is a type of documentary, but not a purely scientific study aimed at agriculture majors. There is definitely a point of view, but it is not heavy or negative.You will never feel the same again about chickens or some of their amazing owners. It will not stop you from eating the birds, except, perhaps, those unfortunate ones raised in today's horrible warehouse "farms." Don't chicken out -- watch this film!