Learning about chickens shifted my desire from raising them toward finding solutions for some of their basic needs. There problems that happen when raising chickens, and, because the relationship between chickens and humans is evolving, modern solutions are emerging. That made me decide to create a line of hand knit sweaters for chickens to address a market that has been mostly ignored.

Sometimes chickens get chilly because they have lost their feathers from periodic molting or perhaps because of parasite infestations in their coops. They need a little help to stay warm while the problem is being solved medically and with better hygiene. Other chickens are just plain bald because they have been living in cages in factory farms and need sweaters because they will die without them while they are adjusting to their new lives as an animal companion after being rescued. Not every chicken breed tolerates the cold as well as others and may need a little help in certain climates. Veterinarians are now recommending sweaters for recovery from surgery and other treatments. Other chickens have truly become members of families and need a fashion wardrobe to keep up with the fashionable dog of the house.

Whatever the reason, I am making one-of-a-kind sweaters and a line of sweaters for chickens which I designed and sized to fit most breeds. The sweaters also can be custom designed. I am making these items with consideration to the comfort and health of the wearer. Items are made from earth friendly vintage and salvaged materials selected for ease of care. Because not every chicken is raised for meat and eggs, I use vegan-friendly synthetic fibers to conform to the needs of our feathered friends' animal conscious human companions. Synthetic fibers naturally repel light moisture, dry quickly, and are resistant to microorganisms.

Please measure your chicken before purchasing a sweater. There is a slide that shows how to do this here in the "about" section and in every listing. The circumference of the body is measured in front of the legs and under the wings. Measure the length of the sweater from the shoulder to the point on the chicken's back where you measured the circumference. Also,the shoulder width is measured. This is not critical to the fit but will give you an idea of how the sweater will look.

I also have two other Etsy shops.
Visit Baisebeige Studios for Handmade and Vintage Clothing and Textiles at http://www.etsy.com/shop/baisebeige
and
Quality Junk for Vintage Textile Supplies at http://www.etsy.com/shop/QualityJunk