These Ultra-Glam Chickens Are Bringing Sexy Bawk

Dan Bannino’s models are beautiful, fussy, and they definitely eat like birds.

His photo series, “Chic Chicks,” depicts Paduan chickens — a breed of chicken native to Padova, Italy — in a glitzy light not normally bestowed on farm animals.

But that’s exactly the point, the Italian photographer says.

Bannino says he started the project to portray "these beautiful chickens like glamorous models of high-fashion magazines."

“The reason why I wanted to use this particular style, was due [to] my urge to underline the fact that some of us don't even know how beautiful a 'common' chicken is," he told The Huffington Post in an email. "In modern society, food is highly industrialised and often comes to our tables in a completely different shape from its original form.”

His subjects are all chickens belonging to breeder Andrea Pozzato in Padua. Working with the “surprisingly patient and collaborative” birds, he said, reinforced his strong belief in respecting other living things.

“Every time that I'm lucky enough to work with animals and closely with nature, I realise how important it is to make this word a better place by paying attention to our behaviours, so fundamental to the environment and its inhabitants,” he said. “Not to spoil and respect the wonderful things that mother nature give us every day, that's my main focus.”

See more of Dan Bannino's work here, and the entire "Chic Chicks" series below.