RESCUED hens at Clynfyw Care Farm, near Boncath, are benefiting from some chicken knitting as wonderful woollies replace their feathers with yarn.

The rescued birds sometimes arrive at Clynfyw looking rather hen pecked with missing feathers, a result of living in close confinement with their battery egg laying peers.

The knitted hen tabards, created by Pembrokeshire Community Connectors knit and natter groups, protect the featherless fowls from being bullied and pecked by their peers once they are taken into Clynfyw.

"Many people like knitting but don't have anyone to knit for, their families have grown up," said Gwyneth, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services community connector team leader, "so we gave the group a few ideas to knit.

"The hen jumpers appealed to many, so we contacted Clynfyw Care Farm as they take in rescue battery hens and distribute them to volunteer families. The knitted jumpers are given to hens that don't have feathers in order to protect them from being pecked by other hens."

Clyfyw Care Farm works with the British Hen Welfare Trust as their west Wales distribution point.

"Some of the hens that come to us are nearly bald," said Jim Bowen, Clynfyw manager. "Some are scared to go outside and some have claws so long they can barely walk.

"The tabards can be life savers. They keep the birds warm, especially in the cold weather, until their feathers grow back."