Have Mercy - Jumpers for Battery Hens??

Rescued Battery Hens in the UK (not my photo)

 There has been much in the news during the past couple of years concerning the life of hens in the "Battery Farms".  Battery farms, if you are new to the term, are the commercial farms that house the hens producing the gazillions of eggs purchased in grocery stores by consumers like you and me. The horrible housing for hens have been reported on, and much info can be obtained by searching the internet using various key words, so I won't Grand-Stand on proper humane care for poultry here and now.  My readers already know how strongly I feel when it comes to the care of all animals, and my "girls" are no exception!

Battery Hen (photo from Little Hen Rescue)

Many rescue organizations in the USA and abroad have helped remove battery hens from deplorable conditions; the rescued birds are given proper feed and better housing, but some have had feathers plucked by their cell occupants, and are bloodied and bare because of this, or are naked because of "forced molting".  The Rescues have put out an SOS to their members and anyone else who might care to help.  Items needed?  Chicken Jumpers!

Have MERCY!  Can you knit?  More jumpers are needed!  Please click on Little Hen Rescue to read more.  Here's a pattern if you care to help:

Pattern for Knitted Hen Jacket

Materials

Double knitting yarn (100g makes approximately 3 jumpers)

2 buttons or 10cm Velcro

1 pair of number 8 (4mm) knitting needles

4mm crochet hook

Knitted in stocking stitch with garter stitch borders

Cast on 41 sts,

Work 4 rows K

Increase for tabs;

Cast on 10 sts at beginning of next row, k14, p to last 4 sts, k4.

Cast on 10 sts at beginning of next row, k14, p to last 14sts, k14.

Work buttonholes; (work these 2 rows straight if using Velcro).

(K2, yf k2tog) 3 times, work to end keeping edges in garter st.

Repeat this row for buttonholes on the other tab.

Cast off 10 sts at beginning of next row.

Next row – cast off 10 sts, k4, p2 tog, p to last 6 sts, p2tog, k4.

Dec 1 st at each end on every fol 6^th row until 25 sts remain.

Divide for neck;

Work 11 sts, cast off 3, work to end – complete this half first.

1)     k4, p to end

2)     cast off 2, k to end

3)     k4, p to end

4)     k2tog, k to end

5)     k4, p2tog, p to end

Work 4 rows straight

  10) K to last 5 sts, inc in next st, k4.

  11) K4, p to last st, inc in next st.

  12) Cast on 2 sts, k to end, (11sts)

  13) K4, p to end

  14) K

Break yarn and rejoin to the other side of neck. 

Work to match, reversing shaping’s and ending at winghole edge.

Next row – k, cast on 3, k across sts from other side of neck.

Next row , k4 inc in next st, p to last 5 sts, inc in next st, k4.

Inc 1 st at each end of every fol 6^th row until there are 41 sts on the needle.

Work 6 rows straight.

Change to gst and knit 4 rows.

Cast off.

Sew on buttons or Velcro as desired.

Work double crochet around neck. 

I don't knit, but I'd sure love to have one of those jumpers for Miss Lizzy!  Isn't the striped one in the above photo just the "Chick's Pajamas"?!?  I adore that bow - what a stylish addition!
Have a great day!
the ChickenWrangler