With the rise of backyard chicken keeping in the U.S., there are plenty of people who consider their free-range companions their friends. In fact, the CDC recently had to warn backyard chicken-keepers to stop kissing and snuggling their chickens because over 1000 people have contracted salmonella from all that hen hugging.
But they didn’t say anything about taking away their cozy knitwear. So if you want to show your chicken you love them without a peck on the cheek, a nice warm sweater might be the key or a dapper hat might be the key.
Check out these 50 chickens sporting the best in-season chickenwear.
1. Power clashing
Go bold and add some color to the chicken pen by getting them a multi-colored knitted sweater for those days then they’re feeling flashy.
2. Funky chicken
After all, when you’re having a great hair day, you can wear just about anything with confidence – even a knitted hot pink chicken sweater.
3. Clucktoberfest
We’re not so sure about the color – although neon is so in right now – but this looks like the perfect pair of lederhosen to celebrate the season barnyard-style.
4. Viking vixen
Sadly, the Vikings probably didn’t wear horned helmets in reality, but you don’t have to tell your chicken that.
5. Rufflepuff
Otherwise, how will you tell them apart when you watch them play chicken quidditch?!
6.I’m a unicorn
Now you can make its dreams come true with this crocheted unicorn hat.
7. Emmy ready
Who said chickens can’t be trendsetters?
8. Black goes with everything
It also makes any color a perfect complement, so you might as well use all the colors in your chicken sweater.
9. Pastel poultry
It’s also got multiple 5-star reviews on Etsy, so there are dozens of people already buying it and loving it (though we’re not sure how many chickens are loving it).
10. Polished purple
Just be sure to ask your chicken if it wants extra flair, such as crocheted flowers or ruffles. After all, you don’t want them looking garish if they prefer subtle.
11. Hen hat
We’d like to see how long a chicken will let this stay on its head.
12. Festive fowl
But it’s very important to some chickens to dress for the season, so you may want to stick with pastels come springtime if your chicken is syle-conscious.
13. Knitted neck
In that case, a turtleneck might come in handy so it can explore it’s non-traditional species curiosity.
And if you’re going to wrangle a chicken into a turtleneck, do try to get that on video.
(But in all seriousness, some of these sweaters are designed to protect chickens who have been bullied and injured on vulnerable parts of their body, in which case we wish them all the best and are glad they can recover with pizzazz.)
14. Roleplay
Either way, you can get a custom Hei Hei the Rooster hat made.
Sounds like a good investment to us.
15. The cherry on top
It’s clearly a thing.
16. There’s Waldo!
And better yet, it doubles as a Waldo Halloween costume!
17. Room to breathe
18. Emerald egg-layer
While the sweater comes in a variety of shades, green seems like the perfect decision for both Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day. That is if your chicken agrees to wear the same outfit twice.
19. Cozy creature
Of course, once you start dressing your chickens, it’s no surprise that they’ll have expectations of other luxuries.
20. Vibrant choices
A friend’s very, very patient chickens.
21. Spring (green) chicken
Many of these chicken sweaters also serve as hen saddles as well, which prevent roosters from injuring a hen’s back and pulling out feathers when they dig in their nails during mating.
The added benefit of this sweater is it really shows off all that upper arm work, so you mess with this chick at your own risk.
22. Red riding hood
Of course, bright red is going to draw attention, but we bet you can get it in any color if the chicken prefers something more demure.
23. Camo cockerel
We’re not sure this silkie is going to blend right in, but it’s worth a try.
24. Hen haberdashery
That way, if they tear it off you know they REALLY meant to get rid of it.
25. Stylish silkie
But if you need to add some color, what’s the worst that could happen by trying (besides getting your eyes pecked out, of course)?
26. Dark and daring
A sweater can not only protect them but look elegant as well.
And this one has a distinct Wednesday Addams vibe that says “I’m not perky” loud and clear.
27. Color coordinating
At least we assume that’s what she was thinking as she pecked out her outfit for the day.
28. Fall colors
They will be if you invest in this neutral number. It’s the best way to keep your fowl fashion-forward. And neutrals go with anything!
29. Full coverage
As fall turns to winter, your chicken may need more warmth. Because it’s not like they have feathers for that or anything.
30. Spooky sweater
This doubles as a holiday-ready jumper or a candy corn costume for your feathered friend.
31. On trend
Never lose track of your favorite friend in this pink highlighter-colored number.
32. Chick-o-lantern
Just make sure to ask them why they did it.
33. Baby blue
In fact, AnimalFunandFashion is the maker of many of the chicken sweaters featured on the list – it’s clearly your go-to for chicken gear and has one of the more famous super(chicken)models.
34. Silly silkie
This is the perfect choice if your chicken is fond of jewel tones, which are going to be big, as usual, for fall and winter.
35. Subtle sweater
This subtle sweater is perfect for those cool spring days when you want to match the season’s blooming flowers.
36. Santa Clucks
Better yet, it has buttons. Chickens love buttons.
37. Chickomono
Yeah, we’re serious.
Why wouldn’t we be serious?
38. Fuzz warmer
Even so, the brown and blue sweater is a very fashion-forward alternative to just walking around naked all day.
39. Chicken cape
This elegant design is made of Tunisian crochet lace, just like your barnyard animal deserves.
We’re huge fans of the drama added by the plunging neckline.
40. Farm meets zoo
Well, you can’t have one because it’s illegal everywhere in the world – but you can have the next best thing, which is a chicken in a koala bear hat.
41.Ravishing Rhode Island Red
While their feathers are already quite stunning, there’s no reason you can’t add a little personality and warmth by getting out your knitting gear and adding some ombre to the mix.
42. Church chicken
This lavender cloche is the perfect Sunday bonnet or Easter topper.
43. Flower child
This detailed sweater is just the thing for when your chicken wardrobe is looking a little bland.
44. Cluck of the Irish
Just don’t let them drink the green beer.
45. Go for the gold
It’s also a great color for fall.
46. Merry Cluckmas
Simply dress your chicken up like Santa and have all the neighborhood kids come and rattle off their Christmas lists to it. They’ll never know the difference.
47. Trick or treat
If we’ve learned anything today it’s that chickens appear to enjoy Halloweeen much more than many of us had ever realized.
48. Bold and blue
Equally appropriate for hens and roosters.
49. Patriotic poultry
Whether it’s election day or the 4th of July, dress it for the occasion in this Uncle Sam hat.
50. Beautiful in black
But if you’d like to keep things sophisticated, buy it a fedora to add to its collection of classy accessories.
But Bored Panda has reported both sides of the chicken-dressing controversy. For example, Daphne Cybele writes that there are plenty of reasons not to dress up your chicken (in fact, it keeps them from warming up by ruffling their feathers or can keep them cold and moist in the rain). But chicken grandmother Maureen Schmidt, who has knitted sweaters for her daughter’s chickens, has said that the animals don’t always have adequate feathering for the weather and the sweaters help keep them warm.
In the end, everyone agrees that chickens should be monitored while wearing clothing, which sounds like a bit of a hassle. However, many of these designs appear to be made with human amusement in mind, so you’re likely watching them anyway.
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