Chicken Fabric

What makes our chicken fabric special

Chicken fabric tends to land in one of two camps. Either it's cartoonish farmhouse novelty, or it's a serious botanical print that happens to include a hen. We design for the second camp. Vintage-frame portraits, heritage-breed studies, wildflower meadows with foraging hens, and quiet country repeats that hold up next to linen drapery and a real wood table.

If you keep chickens, raise them, or just love the way a Buff Orpington looks against a faded floral, there's something here for the kitchen, the nursery, and the breakfast nook.

How to use chicken fabric

• Kitchen linens. Tea towels, napkins, and aprons in linen cotton canvas. A Medium repeat keeps the hens readable when the towel is folded over a handle.
• Curtains. Cafe curtains for a farmhouse kitchen window, full panels for a breakfast nook. Cotton lawn for light, linen canvas for body.
• Cushions and chair pads. Heavyweight twill or performance velvet for dining bench cushions and window seats.
• Quilts and kids' rooms. Cotton poplin for a chicken-themed crib quilt, a chore-coat lining, or a country-kitchen wall quilt.
• Tablecloths and runners. Linen cotton canvas in a Large repeat for a holiday table that looks like it came out of an old farmhouse.

Frequently asked questions

Who prints the fabric?

Better With Birds designs the patterns. Spoonflower prints and ships every order from Durham, North Carolina. Returns and reprints go through Spoonflower.

What substrate is best for a kitchen tea towel?

Linen cotton canvas. It absorbs, it ages well, and the weave holds the print without bleeding. Pre-wash before you hem.

Can I get a heritage breed I don't see in the collection?

Often, yes. We're always adding new breeds. If you have a specific breed in mind, send us a note through the shop.

How big should the repeat be for napkins?

Small to Medium. A repeat around 6 to 12 inches puts a full hen on each napkin without crowding.