This chicken sweater CROCHET PATTERN is an ORIGINAL design created by me. It took a great deal of work and experimentation to achieve just the right sweater shape and fit for each chicken size. I fortunately had wonderful assistance from a dear friend and her hens during the creation process. A BIG thanks to her--and her supermodel flock of chickens--for making the design of this sweater possible!!!

THIS IS NOT A FINISHED PRODUCT. IT IS A CROCHET PATTERN ONLY.

This is an intermediate level pattern. This is a relatively simple design with no buttons, snaps or ties. I designed it as simple as possible due to concern that shiny buttons/snaps would be too attractive for poultry peers and actually invite pecking. I also omitted any ties due to the risk of strangulation or choking. The sides are open for the wings to slide through, which actually helps to hold it in place. Also, the front & back panels connect at the bottom to hold it snug to the chicken’s body.

This pattern includes two design options: (1) Crew Neck and (2) instructions for adding an optional Turtle Neck.

The turtle neck option is intended for hens that need protection on their neck, since this area can be affected by rooster “favoritism”.

Chicken sweaters are not only ridiculously adorable, but they are also actually very practical. During the cooler weather months when chickens tend to molt, they lose some or (in some cases) most of their feathers. Sweaters not only serve to cover the poor, bare hens’ exposed skin as a barrier from the cold, but they also protect from the other chickens’ natural tendency to peck away at the exposed areas of their peers. Sweaters also serve to protect injured/rescued hens while they heal, and they allow the hens to remain with their flock rather than being separated during the transition.

The sizes are based on the following (depending on stitch tension, of course. If your tension is looser than average, your sweater may measure a bit longer than indicated):

SMALL:
~ 5.5 inches from the neck to the bottom hem
~ 2.25 inches wide at the neck with a 2-inch opening
~ 5.5 inches wide at the bottom hem
~ 4-5 lb birds (Banty/Bantam)

MEDIUM:
~ 7.5 inches from the neck to the bottom hem
~ 2.25 inches wide at the neck with a 2 inch opening
~ 6 inches wide at the bottom hem
~ Fits 6-7 lb birds

LARGE:
~ 8.5 inches from the neck to the bottom hem
~ 2.25 inches wide at the neck with a 2 inch opening
~ 7 inches wide at the bottom hem
~ Fits 8-9 lb birds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Supplies Needed:

Size “I” Hook
Size “H” Hook (for turtle neck option)
One small ball of 4 Medium Worsted Weight Yarn (approximately 2 oz. or 100 yards)

Stitches used:

• ch = Chain
• sl st = Slip Stitch
• dc = Double Crochet