A number of people go to every length to keep their pets warm in cold weather.
And when we say pets, we mean all pets, not just cats and dogs.
Bored Panda has recently compiled adorable pictures showing how some people have made their chickens ready to fight winter in a stylish way.
From colorful saddles to crochet sweaters, people have arranged for everything that can make their chickens not only warm but also look extremely stylish.
However, there are some people who claim sweaters make chickens even colder. They argue that chickens, being birds, regulate the temperature of their bodies by fluffing their feathers.
“They trap pockets of air in the downy layers of their under-feathers, which insulates them quite well,” Daphne Cybele said.
But Maureen Schmidt, a resident of Kelowna, British Columbia, doesn’t agree. She wrote: “Without adequate feathering, they can get quite cold, especially if they drop their old feathers all at once.”
Maureen’s mom knitted some warm sweaters for her daughter’s chickens. All the garments were provided with adequate openings for wings and heads.
Maureen says the birds can adjust to these sweaters very quickly as they don’t restrict their movements.
Erin Langston, who owns online store WhimsyofWillows, told Bored Panda. “I have never had any problems in the five years I’ve been using chicken sweaters. Chicken sweaters make people happy!”
But she added that chickens need supervision while they wear sweaters or any other type of garment.
“You don’t want your pet chickens to get injured so [their clothing should be something] that is easy to get on and get off. Chickens will outrun you.”
Rescue organizations also use sweaters for chickens, especially for battery hens that don’t have enough feathers due to the cramped conditions they live in.
“The hens usually come out of farms quite bald and can be underweight,” Miranda McPherson, who has knitted sweaters for England’s Little Hen Rescue, said.
“They will soon fatten up and regain their feathers with the right care, but while they are waiting for their feathers to grow back, they can benefit from our knitted jumpers.”
Here are some chickens from Bored Panda’s compilation who are just ready to fight winter with their cute little outfits.
#1
#3