A few years ago I had a request to make a coat for a chicken. Who knew they would ever need one!
Apparently, hens can get damaged feathers and broken skin from mating males or even from other hens pecking on them…you’ve heard of the “pecking order,” right? I had no idea, but I guess folks that raise chickens see the need for these now and then.
A chicken “saddle” or “hen apron” are all names used for the same thing. It’s a little “apron looking” little piece of material that is used to put on your hens’ backs to protect their feathers. It protects their feathers, allowing them time to grow back. The soft elastic wraps around their wings.
Turns out a friend had some free-range chickens and they were picking on one in particular. Her tail feathers were being pecked out and the poor thing wouldn’t come out of the corner to eat. Hmmm…first a little research was in order. Amazingly, Pinterest had several patterns to make these little “coats.”
The pattern was pretty simple, but of course I didn’t have a chicken to measure so I made one first and had the owner try it on the chicken. Then I adjusted the elastic and general shape until it was right for that chicken.
My first try was a double layer of flannel (see above). The second one was made of denim so it could withstand the pecking better.
It protected the chicken at risk and eventually the tail feathers grew back and the chicken finally risked coming out of the corner to eat dinner. I guess it helps break the habits of aggressive chickens.
I ended up making 3 or 4 coats, including a few that were barely half this size for a very small breed of chicken.
This was an interesting adventure into making unusual “coats” for chickens!
In my research, I found coats are often made for sheep to keep their wool clean until they are sheared. This is really helpful if the wool is going to be spun into yarn…much easier to process the fibers if they start out clean. Of course, it’s also common to provide coats for warmth to goats and horses, but luckily, I haven’t been asked to make those yet! I think I’ll stick with greyhound coats! Enjoy!
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