When Martha's husband dies, she sells the farm, buys a boat, and sets sail with her animals. However, the chickens overhear her saying that she would eat the animals on board if she couldn't find work or food. Determined not to be the "chicken of the sea," they fly to other boats in search of food for Martha. Below deck on another ship, the pirates dream of chicken dinners while their rotting food takes flight with the dining chickens. The pirate captain hatches a plan to catch the chicken-crooks. When Martha comes to the chickens' rescue, new discoveries are made, and the journey to better buried treasure begins