Chicken Eyeglasses: A Surprisingly Long History

Believe it or not, eyeglasses for chickens were once a common sight in American poultry farms. Developed in the early 20th century to curb feather pecking and cannibalism, these small spectacles, made of materials ranging from celluloid to aluminum, came in both clear and, interestingly, red-tinted versions. The red tint was supposedly to mask the color of blood, though later it was admitted chickens are colorblind. Despite this, millions of chicken eyeglasses were sold, even featured on a popular TV show. Now collector's items, their story reflects the ongoing evolution of animal welfare practices.