It can't be much fun being a caged chicken, but their days of monotony might be at an end thanks to an enterprising venture devised by an Iowa State University professor.

Austin Stewart's Second Livestock project is essentially a virtually reality headset for chickens, allowing them to explore digital environments.

Austin Stewart



While it's no replacement for actually being free, the technology will give birds the chance to peck at virtual insects on the ground, interact with digital chickens and explore an environment rich in faux greenery.

Stewart admits that the project is unlikely to leave the testing phase any time soon, but was keen to use it to provoke discussion on the topic of improving life for captive animals.

"Right now, it would be far too expensive to actually implement this full system," he told the Ames Tribune. "In order to ask the question in a way that really makes it real for people, I had to show that this technology is plausible."

Many have aptly named the prototype headset 'Oclucklus Rift', a reference to the upcoming game accessory Oculus Rift.

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