How to Make a Parrot Sweater

Parrots can get bored or nervous, just like people, and when they do, they sometimes pick and pull out the feathers on their chest and stomach. This causes parrot "jelly belly," an unsightly raw front area with bare patches. A parrot sweater is a soft-knitted covering for a bird's body that prevents it from pulling out its feathers. Wearing the sweater allows the feathers to grow back, restoring the bird's healthy good looks.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Thin cotton adult sock
  • Pen
  • Scissors
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Wooden or plastic buttons
  • Velcro dots
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your parrot from the neck to the base of its tail. Add 1 inch.

    • 2

      Measure a thin cotton sock from the opening down the length you calculated by measuring your bird. Mark this spot with a pen. Cut the sock across the entire width at this point.

    • 3

      Slit the sock with the scissors from the opening you just cut to a point 1 inch below the top.

    • 4

      Turn the raw edges of the sock toward the inside using a 1/4-inch fold, both the bottom edge and the slit up the side. Stitch the folds closed using thin sewing thread.

    • 5

      Sew half of a Velcro dot set next to the slit, 1 inch above the bottom opening. Stitch the other half of the dot set on the other half of the slit at the same height. This will be the closure at the back of the sweater.

    • 6

      Sew wooden or plastic beads or buttons onto the front of the sweater for your parrot to bite on, to prevent it from pulling at the sweater.

    • 7

      Slip the sweater cuff over your parrot's head and fasten the Velcro dot in back below its wings. The buttons will show on its chest within easy reach of its beak.