In the picturesque countryside of Yorkshire, a group of chickens live under the oppressive regime of the ruthless Mrs Tweedy and her complaisant husband, Mr Tweedy, who ruthlessly eliminate any chicken that fails to produce eggs. Leading the charge for freedom is the determined Ginger, who continually hatches plans for escape, only to be thwarted at every turn. Mr Tweedy begins to suspect the chickens are scheming against them, but his wife remains dismissive of his fears as she grows increasingly frustrated with their meager profits.
One fateful night, as Ginger observes the arrival of an American rooster named Rocky Rhodes, she witnesses him soar over the coop’s fence, though he soon crashes into their yard. The chickens take him in, caring for his injured wing, while they hide him from the Yorkshire couple, who are unaware that Rocky's owner awaits a reward for his return. Inspired by Rocky's apparent flying talents, Ginger passionately urges him to teach her and her fellow chickens how to escape by flight, even threatening to expose him if he refuses. Reluctantly, Rocky agrees to give them lessons.
As the plot unfolds, a shipment arrives at the farm—new equipment for a chicken pie-making machine ordered by Mrs Tweedy. The couple's recent surge in food rations raises Ginger's suspicions; she realizes the Tweedys plan to fatten them up for slaughter. In the midst of rising tensions, Rocky throws a morale-boosting dance party, which reveals that his wing has healed. However, the following day brings calamity when Mr Tweedy ensnares Ginger in the newly assembled pie machine. Rocky comes to her rescue, sabotaging the machine and buying precious time for the chickens to prepare their escape.
But Ginger is devastated to discover that Rocky has left a piece of a poster indicating he is part of a "chicken cannonball" act, revealing his inability to fly. Just as despair begins to weigh heavily on the group, Ginger finds inspiration in the heartening stories shared by the elderly rooster Fowler about his days in the Royal Air Force. Together, the chickens rally to construct an aircraft, all while Mr Tweedy continues to tinker with the pie-making contraption.
A twist of fate leads Rocky back to the farm, guilt-ridden after spotting a billboard advertising Mrs Tweedy's chicken pies. As she orders her husband to round up the chickens, they band together, overcoming the odds to finish building their plane with Fowler commandeering the flight. In a gripping sequence, as the plane readies for takeoff, a battle ensues with Mr Tweedy, but Ginger's quick thinking saves the day. The exhilarating escape culminates with Ginger outsmarting Mrs Tweedy, sending her tumbling into her own explosive creation.
In the aftermath, the chickens emerge triumphant, celebrating their victory over the Tweedys as Ginger and Rocky share a heartfelt kiss. Their new life begins on a serene island bird sanctuary, where their romance blossoms. As the chickens revel in their newfound freedom, Nick and Fetcher, two clever rats who aided them, engage in a humorous debate about starting their egg farm, pondering whether to begin with a chicken or an egg.
