chicken jackets
- Thread starter steve
- Start date
I believe some people use them on ex- batts when they first arrive with very few feathers in very cold weather, but they are not necessary or desirable for ordinary chickens who are properly feathered. Chickens have fantastic insulation from their feathers, which they can puff out for extra warmth when required, and once acclimatised they can do well in very low temperatures, many degrees below frezing, so long as they have shelter from freezing wind and rain and a dry coop to roost in.
You can get canvas saddles for hens running with a cockerel, but these are to prevent his spurs from damaging her back and wearing away the feathers, not for warmth.
You can get canvas saddles for hens running with a cockerel, but these are to prevent his spurs from damaging her back and wearing away the feathers, not for warmth.
chrismahon
Well-known member
We (well actually Rosie) knitted a woolly jumper for Annie BlackRock. She had moulted in November and was nearly bald and very cold. Made a lovely wooly jacket in black (her natural colour) for her. She immediately took it off and froze -hypothermia. She was taken into the house and recovered in a couple of days. She never got used to it completely but feathered up eventually so then didn't need it.
Chickens are not cold proofed until the feathers are fully grown and the base insulating feathers are opened up. The feathers often split as they grow and another shorter insulating feather grows alongside. Otherwise the last bit of the feather is much fluffier than the top part.
Chickens are not cold proofed until the feathers are fully grown and the base insulating feathers are opened up. The feathers often split as they grow and another shorter insulating feather grows alongside. Otherwise the last bit of the feather is much fluffier than the top part.
BabyBantam
Member
That's really interesting about the feathers Chris, always wondered why they seemed to come with 'mini me' attached 
I made some for our ex bats as we got them last november, and one was in a very bad way, I found having the coats on prevented quite a lot of the feather growth, but without any it did the trick, and by spring they came off and the feathers fully formed and they were feathery chooks again!
I definitely wouldnt recommend putting them on fully feathered chooks, its been -5 here recently and just extra bedding, and extra food to keep them warm does the trick!
they are hardy, and if used to being outside they adjust well throughout the year
I have a template so if you need it, then let me know
they worked wonders and lasted til spring
I definitely wouldnt recommend putting them on fully feathered chooks, its been -5 here recently and just extra bedding, and extra food to keep them warm does the trick!
they are hardy, and if used to being outside they adjust well throughout the year
I have a template so if you need it, then let me know
they worked wonders and lasted til spring
