Thursday, October 20, 2011

Hens get cold too!

I was flipping through a National Geographic at the doctor's office and came across a picture that caught my eye- a hen in a little knitted sweater. Naturally, I had to tear out that page (sorry next patient!) and research this some more. It led me to info about the UK rescuing battery hens, and to groups who knit sweaters for them. You can even get the pattern and directions here. I wonder if I could felt one instead? I'll be sure to post it if I make one!

  Also, I read more about the British Hen Welfare Trust.
I imagine most of you in the UK have heard of this. Okay, for all I know, everyone has heard of this, but I hadn't.  I think it's a wonderful organization and project. And as someone who hopes to have a couple chickens some day, it was really appealing. I'm still looking into anything like this in the US. Anyone know?  Just wanted to share! :)
click the links to learn more.


What do think...they need some felted bead embellishments?! Hee!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm in AWWWWW! I adore chucks .. we always had a few when we lived in the country. I for one, had not heard of any of this. They look so gorgeous in their little sweaters. Great post, Katie. xxDonna

Unknown said...

PS: Love that Jamie Oliver is a patron. OOoooo, all those little brown hens, makes me want some again. It really is a clever idea -- trust the Brits. xxD

Sue said...

I think you will find that most Brits won't have heard of it either! I knew that some battery hens are rescued and sent to live happier lives and that a lot of them have few feathers but not seen the knitted jackets for them....so sweet:)
Sue....a Brit:)

Valerie-Jael said...

Love your hens with knitted pullovers. I am so glad I am not the only one who tears pics out at doctor's and dentist's, too! Hugs, Valerie

artymess said...

thats interesting do they knit the jumpers because they rub their feathers off .....battery farms are terrible places in fact the whole meat industry is appalling and the suffering to the animals.....so anything that we can do to alleviate that...they look like they are happy in them too ....I am a long time vegetarian ...can you tell !!...xx

Unknown said...

Hi Katie .. just left a message for you in your blog email box. Let me know. Thanks. xxDonna

Barbara said...

This is wonderful, awesome and downright humorous. Not that hens don't have a right to be warm, they just look so, ahhhh...cute, make me smile! Of course you know I want to see it if you felt a sweater for them.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing, battery cages are the worst. Those little chicks look swell in their sweaters, ned them in the damp Uk. My duckies have such good feathers but even in winter they bed down in a fot of straw in their house. Only their little orange feet get cold, hmmm boots for ducks? xox Corrine