I have taken some pretty weird orders in my dressmaking career but this one tops the chart. 20 years of creating prom dresses, wedding dresses, suits, drapes and pillows, alterations, zippers in jeans, quilts and duvet covers, you name it, I made it. But a Hen Jumper is something quite new indeed. My dressmaking slogan was Creating Anything Your Heart Desires so this little project was gonna be a piece of cake.
It was so much fun to blow the dust off my sewing machine and loop that familiar yellow measuring tape around the back of my neck and feeling it fall down the from of my legs onto the floor. See how natural I look in this setting? Brings back memories. My magically delicious life was but a seed back then and now the seed of my dreams have been planted and sprouted and have grown some. Brings a smile to my face to think of it.
I made a pattern, cut the jumper out of fleece then strategically zig zagged the velcro fasteners on. I proudly held the tiny green garment up and admired it. Paul and I went out doors and fetched Peck, my hen. Paul did the holding as I wrapped and fastened on the jumper. I got to say there ain't nothin' like a chicken wrapped in fleece in your arms. Here she is...
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| Peck lost a few feathers in the summer and we wanted to keep her warm. Turns out a rescue for hens in the UK puts these sweaters or jumpers on their hens. About 10-20% of their rescues have feathers missing and the use of these sweaters not only keeps them warm but allows their feathers to grow back. I have links below for patterns and info on the hen rescue. |
I set Peck down on the grass only to observe her walk backwards and stop, then backwards and stop again, and again. We thought maybe she was trying to step out of it. With a Libra eye my husband said it may need be a bit bigger and I quickly agreed as I
noticed the stress lines around her girth. Back to the house I flew and made up a larger pattern in red this time. I have got to say that red was the ticket. She looked so pretty in red. However, her sisters, Cali, Betsy and Henny Penny scoffed and pecked at her new duds. We took off the red jumper and I will make a larger one as the girth was still tight on her. Geeze you would have thunk I had of measured Peck's body first. Now I will have patterns in small, medium and large.
It has been an exciting day. It snowed all day and Paul and I took a walk in our Juniper Forest with our dogs, Kollie, Windy and Walker. They had a blast running and leaping and pouncing in the snow. The day went by so fast. Night has fallen and it is snowing. I am ready to fall asleep. I wish you all a good night or day which ever the case may be. Tomorrow is another day and I am looking forward to it. But for now it is Over and Out here in Cedar City,UT USA
Om Shanti Om (Peace)
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I thought maybe you invented this but I see other chickens are sporting coats. I will have to remember this!
ReplyDeleteI do have a question. Doesn't the red make them want to peck? I thought when they see red they think it is blood and want to peck.
You know, Birdie, that is a good thing to look into to. It is so precious all those chickens in their sweaters and jumpers. The penguins recently in New Zealand also had sweaters made because of the oil spill. It is a nice thing to know about in case we need them. Who would have thunk it. I kept trying to find remedies for bald chickens and came up with a few people who tried all kinds of lotions and potions. This idea struck me as so kind and comforting. Take care and have sweet dreams. Deborah
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