Turns out, people are keeping their chickens warm in a much more stylish way than one might think. I'm talking crochet sweaters, colorful saddles, you know, the good stuff. And it's not like these things are hard to get. Everyone can find them on ETSY just like that. Designers have been appealing clothing for these feathery fashionistas for a while now, and they just started releasing their Fall collections.
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Some people, however, say that sweaters, for example, might make a chicken colder. You see, one way that chickens regulate their body temperature is by fluffing their feathers. "They trap pockets of air in the downy layers of their under-feathers, which insulates them quite well," Daphne Cybele wrote.
But Maureen Schmidt, who lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, disagreed: "Without adequate feathering, they can get quite cold, especially if they drop their old feathers all at once." Schmidt's mother knitted quite a few warm garments for her daughter's chickens. She designed the sweaters to have an opening for the birds' heads and wings, and they button to secure to their bodies. Schmidt believes these sweaters don't restrict her chickens' movements and that the birds adjust to them quickly.
Erin Langston, the creator of online shop WhimsyofWillows has also heard the negative things people have been saying about chicken clothing. "I've heard the claims and they're just that, claims," Erin told Bored Panda. "I have never had any problems in the five years I've been using chicken sweaters. Chicken sweaters make people happy!" However, the woman said that chickens should always be supervised while wearing any type of clothing.
"You don't want your pet chickens to get injured so [their clothing should be something] that is easy to get on and get off. Chickens will outrun you."
"You don't want your pet chickens to get injured so [their clothing should be something] that is easy to get on and get off. Chickens will outrun you."
Moreover, many rescue organizations use chicken sweaters. Mostly, when they're taking in battery hens, which are usually sold for slaughter when they start producing fewer eggs. These birds are often missing a lot of their feathers because of the cramped, stressful conditions they've lived in.
Haha! This comment made my day. It's the simple things... BAGOCK!
"The hens usually come out of farms quite bald and can be underweight,” said Miranda McPherson. She has knitted sweaters for England’s Little Hen Rescue. "They will soon fatten up and regain their feathers with the right care, but while they are waiting for their feathers to grow back, they can benefit from our knitted jumpers."
Oh my word. All my hens and roos have Harry Potter names. Imagine if they had sweaters with their names on them, or at least initials like Weasleys!
Bold colors and styling...even a rooster (?) enjoys a fashion statement.
No sweaters are needed for birds! If they're sick then they can be looked after with heat lamps or if they have dropped too many feathers than a temporary jumper might make sense but for the rest? No. Animals are generally well equipped for the weather on their own and putting clothing on them might make it harder for them to regulate their own temperature.
For sure! Unless there's a compelling (medical) reason to dress an animal, it should be left alone.
So cool and cute...makes me miss my house rooster, Jarvis Cocker. I raised him inside my house since the day he hatched (his mom rejected him); my cats totally got along with him...although they would jump a little when he’d sneak up behind them and crow. For the most part, I had him house trained pretty good
Not even my dog lets me dress her. She destroys the place whenever I put something on her
I don't think they appreciate being unable to groom their backs and bellies. Also feathers that grow out underneath the sweaters and old ones that fall out underneath would be itchy! My birds wouldn't rest until they'd be rid of these unwanted garments.
Some kinda cute, but animals are not toys !!! Maybe the sweaters have a logic if a chicken have lost her/his feathers for some reason and have to stay warm, but the hats? No way ! I believe that could harm the chicken.
This is partly why there has been an increase in the number of backyard chicken related salmonella cases. On a side note, the little sweaters were originally designed to protect the hens during mating.
I have two muscovy ducks and I suspect they would find a way to kill me in my sleep if I did this to them. Those chickens are betraying their mighty dinosaur roots.
Animals are not Barbie dolls or fashion accessories. Go knit booties for little human babies instead. I'm sure they will appreciate it far more than those poor chicken.
Sorry, but it's hard for me to get all warm and fuzzy about a chicken. Unless it's properly fried of course.
Feathers and body heat are enough in most situations, so unless the bird is missing a lot of feathers, the sweater is just going to interfere with natural preening and dustbathing, which are necessary to maintain healthy feathers and control parasites. A jumper that got wet could cause the chicken to lose bodyheat very fast, and possibly become hypothermic. In a warm environment, a jumper could cause the chicken to over heat. If the weather is truly too cold for the chicken, then the hutch should be insulated and heated appropriately. Dressing the chicken for a supervised walk outside and photo op is weird, but probrably not a major risk. Leaving it on, probrably not a good idea.
No sweaters are needed for birds! If they're sick then they can be looked after with heat lamps or if they have dropped too many feathers than a temporary jumper might make sense but for the rest? No. Animals are generally well equipped for the weather on their own and putting clothing on them might make it harder for them to regulate their own temperature.
For sure! Unless there's a compelling (medical) reason to dress an animal, it should be left alone.
So cool and cute...makes me miss my house rooster, Jarvis Cocker. I raised him inside my house since the day he hatched (his mom rejected him); my cats totally got along with him...although they would jump a little when he’d sneak up behind them and crow. For the most part, I had him house trained pretty good
Not even my dog lets me dress her. She destroys the place whenever I put something on her
I don't think they appreciate being unable to groom their backs and bellies. Also feathers that grow out underneath the sweaters and old ones that fall out underneath would be itchy! My birds wouldn't rest until they'd be rid of these unwanted garments.
Some kinda cute, but animals are not toys !!! Maybe the sweaters have a logic if a chicken have lost her/his feathers for some reason and have to stay warm, but the hats? No way ! I believe that could harm the chicken.
This is partly why there has been an increase in the number of backyard chicken related salmonella cases. On a side note, the little sweaters were originally designed to protect the hens during mating.
I have two muscovy ducks and I suspect they would find a way to kill me in my sleep if I did this to them. Those chickens are betraying their mighty dinosaur roots.
Animals are not Barbie dolls or fashion accessories. Go knit booties for little human babies instead. I'm sure they will appreciate it far more than those poor chicken.
Sorry, but it's hard for me to get all warm and fuzzy about a chicken. Unless it's properly fried of course.
Feathers and body heat are enough in most situations, so unless the bird is missing a lot of feathers, the sweater is just going to interfere with natural preening and dustbathing, which are necessary to maintain healthy feathers and control parasites. A jumper that got wet could cause the chicken to lose bodyheat very fast, and possibly become hypothermic. In a warm environment, a jumper could cause the chicken to over heat. If the weather is truly too cold for the chicken, then the hutch should be insulated and heated appropriately. Dressing the chicken for a supervised walk outside and photo op is weird, but probrably not a major risk. Leaving it on, probrably not a good idea.