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๐ National Drinking with Chickens Day – 23rd May (US)
Clink glasses, cluck cheers — a feathered celebration of backyard joy
Every year on 23rd May, a delightfully quirky holiday unfolds across the United States — National Drinking with Chickens Day. Yes, you read that correctly. This whimsical observance encourages chicken owners (and chicken admirers) to grab a beverage, head out to the coop, and enjoy a relaxing drink in the company of their feathered friends.
The day was founded in 2019 by Kate Richards, a backyard chicken blogger and author of the book Drinking with Chickens. What started as a humorous social media post grew into an annual tradition celebrated by urban farmers, rural homesteaders, and anyone who appreciates the simple joy of spending time with backyard poultry.
๐ The Origin Story: How It Began
From a funny idea to a national day
- ๐ 2019 — Kate Richards, a graphic designer and chicken enthusiast in California, jokingly declared May 23 as "National Drinking with Chickens Day" on her blog and social media.
- ๐ Book release — Her book Drinking with Chickens: Cocktails, Chickens, and Good Times (2021) included the history, recipes, and philosophy behind the day.
- ๐ฑ Viral growth — Backyard chicken owners (a rapidly growing community) embraced the holiday, sharing photos of themselves sipping wine, beer, or mocktails with their hens.
- ๐ Official recognition — While not a federal holiday, "Drinking with Chickens Day" is now listed on many online holiday calendars and celebrated annually.
๐ฟ Why Drink with Chickens?
At first glance, the concept sounds absurd. But backyard chicken owners understand:
- ๐ Chickens are calming — Watching chickens peck, scratch, dust bathe, and interact has a meditative, stress-reducing quality.
- ๐ They're hilarious — Their antics (chasing bugs, hopping off perches, running for treats) are genuinely funny.
- ๐ค Bonding time — Hand-feeding treats, sitting in the coop, or just observing builds a relationship with your flock.
- ๐ง A moment to slow down — In a busy world, sitting with chickens forces you to be present, patient, and grounded.
๐น What to Drink with Chickens?
The "drink" part is flexible — alcoholic or non‑alcoholic, fancy or plain:
- ๐ท Wine or beer — A glass of rosรฉ, a cold lager, or a hard cider.
- ๐น Cocktails — Kate Richards' book includes recipes like "The Clucktail" (vodka, elderflower, lemon) and "The Henny Penny" (bourbon, honey, ginger).
- ☕ Coffee or tea — Morning coffee with chickens can be just as pleasant.
- ๐ง Sparkling water or lemonade — For non‑drinkers or early afternoon coop visits.
- ๐ฅ Water — Chickens themselves drink plain water (and they'll appreciate a fresh bowl).
๐ The Backyard Chicken Boom
The rise of backyard chicken keeping has been remarkable:
- ๐ 2000s–2020s — Growing interest in sustainable living, organic eggs, and homesteading.
- ๐ฆ COVID-19 pandemic (2020) — A massive surge in chicken keeping as people sought self-sufficiency and home projects.
- ๐️ Urban chickens — Many cities now allow small backyard flocks (usually 3–6 hens, no roosters).
- ๐ฑ Benefits — Fresh eggs, pest control (chickens eat bugs), fertilizer, compost creation, and delightful companionship.
๐ณ Chicken Breeds Perfect for Backyards
If you're inspired to get chickens (or just appreciate their variety):
- ๐ฅ Rhode Island Red — Hardy, excellent layers, friendly.
- ๐ค Australorp — Black feathers, gentle, world record for egg laying.
- ๐ Buff Orpington — Fluffy, golden, very docile (great with kids).
- ๐ค Leghorn — Excellent layers but more flighty.
- ๐ชถ Silkie — Fluffy feathers, black skin, gentle lap chickens (more for pets than eggs).
- ๐งก Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock) — Friendly, good layers, cold hardy.
๐ How to Celebrate National Drinking with Chickens Day
- ๐ท Pour a drink — Any beverage you enjoy (alcoholic or not).
- ๐ Visit your chickens — Sit in their run or coop. Bring a chair if needed.
- ๐ Give them a treat — Mealworms, scratch grains, chopped grapes, or watermelon (chickens love snacks).
- ๐ธ Take a photo — Share your "drinking with chickens" moment on social media with #DrinkingWithChickens #NationalDrinkingWithChickensDay
- ๐ Read Kate Richards' book — Drinking with Chickens: Cocktails, Chickens, and Good Times for recipes and stories.
- ๐ฑ If you don't have chickens — Visit a friend who does, go to a farm sanctuary, or simply watch chicken videos online (they're oddly relaxing).
- ๐ณ Cook something with eggs — An omelet, frittata, or fried eggs — honoring the gift of chickens.
๐ The Humor Behind the Day
Part of the charm of National Drinking with Chickens Day is its self-aware absurdity. It's not a serious political cause or a health awareness day. It's a celebration of the ridiculous and the delightful — a reminder that life doesn't have to be so serious. Chickens don't care what you drink. They don't know it's a holiday. But you do. And that's the point.
๐ The Global Chicken Population
- ๐ ~25 billion chickens — In the world at any given time (far outnumbering humans).
- ๐จ๐ณ China has the most — Followed by the US, Brazil, and Indonesia.
- ๐ฅ Largest egg producers — China, US, India, Japan, Mexico.
- ๐ Heritage breeds vs. commercial breeds — Backyard chickens are often heritage breeds; commercial farms use hybrid layers (like White Leghorns) or broilers (Cornish Cross).
๐ง The Zen of Chicken Watching
Psychologists and chicken owners alike note the therapeutic value of watching chickens. Their rhythmic pecking, soft clucking, dust baths, and social hierarchy (the "pecking order") are hypnotic. In a hyperconnected, stressful world, sitting with chickens forces you to slow down. No screens. No deadlines. Just chickens being chickens.
๐ A Note on Respect
While National Drinking with Chickens Day is lighthearted, it also encourages respect for chickens as sentient beings. Backyard chicken owners often develop deep bonds with their flocks. They name their hens, mourn when they die, and celebrate each egg as a small miracle. The day is not about mockery — it's about appreciating chickens as companions, not just egg machines.
๐ Kate Richards: The Founder
Kate Richards, the creator of the day, is a graphic designer, author, and chicken enthusiast living in Northern California. Her book Drinking with Chickens (2021) combines:
- ๐น Cocktail recipes — Named after famous chickens or chicken-related puns.
- ๐ธ Photography — Beautiful images of chickens enjoying "drinks" (staged safely).
- ๐ Humorous essays — On the joys and absurdities of chicken keeping.
๐ฑ How to Observe (Without Chickens)
- ๐ป Have a drink outdoors — Even without chickens, enjoy nature.
- ๐บ Watch chicken videos — YouTube is full of relaxing chicken content.
- ๐ฅ Buy eggs from a local farm — Support small-scale chicken keepers.
- ๐ฅ Visit a petting zoo or farm sanctuary — Spend time with chickens in person.
๐งญ A Clucking Good Message
On this 23rd May, whether you have a backyard flock or just a sense of humor, raise a glass to the humble chicken. They give us eggs, entertainment, fertilizer, and (if you're lucky) a moment of calm in a chaotic world. National Drinking with Chickens Day is silly, yes. But silliness is underrated. So pour yourself something, cluck a greeting, and remember: the best conversations are sometimes one‑sided — and that's perfectly fine.
๐ Clink. Cluck. Repeat. ๐
๐ฟ Read more ๐ CRA Arts Blog
๐จ Shutterstock: craarts
▶️ YouTube: CRA Arts Channel
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