Why did the chicken cross the road?

Proving that the British take their pets extremely seriously, one firm has designed a high-vis jacket to be worn by chickens, so as to ensure that they will be able to cross roads safely over the dark winter months.

The ‘High-vis Chicken Jackets’ have been created by chicken coop and accessory firm Omlet, aimed at the increasing number of people who keep chickens as pets, especially in urban areas. The jackets are designed to allow motorists to see them as they cross roads, and to allow their owners to find them and install them safely in their hen houses during the dark winter evenings.

Omlet’s director, Johannes Paul, told The Telegraph: “We had people inquiring about this kind of thing so decided to look into it. Most people who have chickens as pets will have them out and about and we do hear about chickens who do cross the road.

“If you imagine you are in a built-up area and your chicken gets under the fence, they don’t care if there is a road there. They just go straight across it.”

Each high-vis jacket costs £12 and they are already proving to be extremely popular with chicken owners, with the company selling 200 of the items in just ten days. The breathable, showerproof jackets come in both pink and yellow, with the pink version currently proving twice as popular than the yellow for the fashion-conscious birds.

The jackets are fastened over the chicken’s wings with an adjustable Velcro fastening at the front, and also boast a quilted lining to keep the birds comfortable and warm.