
In the 1985 fantasy film Return to Oz, Dorothy Gale is accompanied by her pet chicken, Billina. Billina was originally an ordinary chicken, who decided one day that she no longer wanted to lay eggs. When Dorothy's Aunt Em threatened to cook her for dinner, Billina fled the farm and joined Dorothy in a chicken coop, which sailed to Oz. In Oz, Billina gains the ability to speak and becomes Dorothy's animal companion, joining her on her adventures to save the land of Oz from the Nome King.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Billina |
| Owner | Dorothy Gale |
| Type of animal | Chicken/Hen |
| Colour | Orange |
| Personality | Spunky, sassy, talkative |
| Origin | Kansas |
| First appearance | Ozma of Oz (1907) |
| Film appearance | Return to Oz (1985) |
| No. of chickens used in filming | 40 |
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What You'll Learn

The chicken's name is Billina
The chicken's name is indeed Billina in Return to Oz. Billina is Dorothy Gale's pet chicken in the film, and she is the only orange chicken out of the 30 used in the movie. Billina was once an ordinary chicken who decided to stop laying eggs. Dorothy's Aunt Em says that if Billina doesn't lay any more eggs, she will have to be cooked for dinner. In fear of her life, she escapes the farm and ends up with Dorothy, sailing in a chicken coop until they reach Oz.
Billina was originally named Bill because no one could tell if she was going to be a hen or a rooster when she was a chick. When Dorothy meets Bill, she feminizes the name to Billina. Billina is a spunky, sassy, and talkative chicken who becomes Dorothy's animal companion. She serves a similar role to Dorothy's pet dog Toto from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
In Return to Oz, Billina and Dorothy follow a damaged yellow brick road to the Emerald City, which is in ruins, and its citizens have been turned to stone. They are trapped by the Wheelers but are saved by Tik-Tok, a mechanical man. Billina also helps defeat the Nome King as only a hen can since eggs are poisonous to Nomes. In the end, she chooses to stay in Oz, enamored by the excitement and not wanting to return to "humdrum" Kansas.
Billina first appears in the Oz book series by L. Frank Baum, being introduced in Ozma of Oz in 1907. She is a popular character among fans of the Oz books, and her role in Return to Oz was well-received.
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Billina is Dorothy's companion
Billina is a fictional character in the classic children's series of Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum. She is introduced in Ozma of Oz (1907). Billina is Dorothy Gale's pet chicken in the 1985 film Return to Oz, a Walt Disney Pictures release. She is Dorothy's companion and favourite among a bunch of chickens. Billina was once an ordinary chicken who decided to stop laying eggs. Dorothy's Aunt Em says that if Billina doesn't lay any more eggs, she will have to be cooked for dinner. In fear, she flees the farm, ending up with Dorothy, until they reach Oz. Billina serves the role that Dorothy's pet dog Toto served in the first Oz book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900).
Billina was originally named Bill because no one could tell if she was going to be a hen or a rooster. Dorothy insists on changing the name to a feminine form. Billina is a spunky, sassy, and talkative chicken. She and Dorothy endure several scares before defeating the Nome King, as only a hen can, since eggs are poisonous to Nomes. When Billina is about to be devoured by the Nome King, she lays an egg that falls into his mouth, killing him. She falls in love with the excitement in Oz and chooses to stay, not wanting to return to "humdrum" Kansas.
In the film, around 40 real chickens were used during filming, each with a specific purpose, such as perching, sitting, carrying, or running. A mechanical chicken was also used for certain scenes. Billina is shown to have a strong feminist character, even though she is just a chicken. In The Road to Oz, she reveals that she has been hatching chicks, and she names them all Dorothy. When her chicks turn out to be roosters, she renames them Daniel. Billina's character provides a unique and memorable companion for Dorothy in the Land of Oz, offering both humour and bravery in their adventures together.
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Billina was an ordinary chicken
The two find themselves castaways in the enchanted country of Ev, having washed up on its uncharted shores during a violent storm. Billina becomes Dorothy's animal companion, and together, they navigate the wonders and dangers of Oz. She even gains the ability to speak upon her arrival in Oz, a talent that adds to her spunky and talkative personality. Billina takes on the role that Dorothy's pet dog Toto played in the first Oz book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
Billina's courage and quick thinking are put to the test when she faces the Nome King. In a climactic moment, she finally decides to lay an egg, which falls into the Nome King's mouth, killing him and confirming his fear of chickens. Her bravery and loyalty to Dorothy shine throughout their journey, and she becomes enamored with the excitement of Oz. She chooses to stay in the magical land rather than return to the mundane life of a farm chicken in Kansas.
Billina's role in "Return to Oz" is a memorable one, and she is a beloved character in the Oz series. Her transformation from an ordinary chicken to a fearless adventurer showcases her unique personality and strong feminist traits. She is a true companion to Dorothy, and together, they leave their mark on the enchanting world of Oz.
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Billina gains the ability to speak
In the 1985 fantasy film *Return to Oz*, Dorothy Gale returns to the Land of Oz, where she is reunited with her chicken, Billina, who has gained the ability to speak. This ability is attributed to the magical nature of Oz, where many animals can talk.
Billina, originally named Bill, is introduced in L. Frank Baum's 1907 novel *Ozma of Oz*, the third book in the Oz series. In the novel, Dorothy and her uncle, Henry, are travelling by ship to Australia when a violent storm hits, tossing the ship over the waves. Dorothy and Billina wash up on the shores of the enchanted country of Ev in a chicken coop they had taken refuge in. Billina becomes Dorothy's animal companion, taking on the role that Dorothy's dog, Toto, played in the first Oz book, *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz* (1900).
Billina was named Bill because, as a chick, no one could tell if she was going to be a hen or a rooster. Dorothy changes her name to a feminine form by adding "ina" to the end after hearing her feminine voice. Billina is described as spunky, sassy, and talkative, with a natural wit and a sharp tongue. She is brave, practical, and loving, and she becomes a loyal friend to Dorothy.
In the film *Return to Oz*, Billina is portrayed by around 40 real chickens, each with their own unique abilities, such as perching, sitting, running, or attacking. A mechanical chicken was also used for certain scenes, further blurring the line between fantasy and reality. Billina's ability to speak in Oz is a testament to the magical nature of the land, where animals can communicate with humans and each other.
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Billina is key to defeating the Nome King
In the 1985 film Return to Oz, Dorothy Gale returns to the Land of Oz to find it in ruins and conquered by the Nome King and Princess Mombi. She is accompanied by her chicken, Billina, who can now talk. Together, they set out to restore Oz with their new friends: Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and the Gump.
Billina is a spunky, sassy, and talkative chicken who becomes Dorothy's loyal companion and plays a crucial role in defeating the Nome King. The Nome King is the main antagonist in the film, possessing the ability to change his size and shape at will. During the final battle, the Nome King grows to a colossal size and attempts to devour Dorothy and her companions.
Billina, who was hiding in Jack Pumpkinhead's head, unintentionally lays an egg, which falls into the Nome King's mouth, poisoning and killing him. This is significant because eggs are poisonous to Nomes, and only a hen can defeat the Nome King in this manner. With the Nome King defeated, Dorothy retrieves her ruby slippers and uses their power to restore Oz to its former glory.
Throughout the film, Billina provides comic relief with her natural sass and attitude. She is a source of strength and courage for Dorothy, always ready to speak her mind and face the dangers of Oz. Her presence gives Dorothy the support she needs to confront the Nome King and overcome the challenges she encounters.
In the end, when Princess Ozma is crowned the rightful ruler of Oz, Billina chooses to stay in the Land of Oz, becoming the acknowledged Queen and Governor of all the chickens in Oz. Billina's bravery, loyalty, and unique abilities make her an essential character in the defeat of the Nome King and the restoration of peace in Oz.
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Frequently asked questions
The chicken's name in Return to Oz is Billina.
Billina is Dorothy Gale's pet chicken.
Billina was once an ordinary chicken who decided to stop laying eggs. Dorothy's aunt, Em, then said that if Billina didn't lay any more eggs, she would have to be cooked for dinner. Fearing for her life, she fled the farm and ended up with Dorothy.
Billina becomes Dorothy's companion in Oz and helps her defeat the Nome King as only a hen can since eggs are poisonous to Nomes.











































