How to Make a Chicken Costume for Kids

Why did the chicken cross the road? To go trick-or-treating, of course. This funny costume is made from two tickly feather boas, ordinary kitchen gloves, tights, and a pilot's cap that's crowned with a felt comb.

Martha Stewart

Updated on March 21, 2023

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little girl in chicken costume — Photo: Janelle Jones

There are two things that will make any Halloween one to remember: a night of trick-or-treating and a fun costume for the festivities. Get the little ones in your family dressed on October 31 with this DIY chicken costume. It just takes feather boas, kitchen gloves, tights, and a pilot's cap to make it. And under the plumage, two leotards are stuffed with batting for extra plumpness.

Note: This costume is appropriate for children ages 3 and older. Because our costumes were assembled from household materials, they do not conform to all of the safety requirements that store-bought costumes do. Therefore, children wearing them should be supervised by an adult at all times. Make sure that your chicken-feet shoes fit properly so that your toddler won't trip over them. This chicken pairs well with our lamb costume for an adorable farm animal-inspired group ensemble.

For more ideas, scroll through our entire collection of Halloween costumes for kids.

What You'll Need

Materials

Chicken's Comb template
2 white long-sleeved leotards
Fiberfill such as Poly-Fil
2 heavyweight white feather boas
White pilot's cap (Pictured: Happy Tree Baby Hat Bonnet Soft 100-Percent Combed Cotton Beanie Pilot Caps)
Two 8-by-10-inch pieces of red wool felt
Yellow rubber gloves
White canvas slip-on shoes
Scissors
Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
Bag for stuffing

Instructions

For the bodysuit, place one leotard inside the other; use embroidery floss to stitch leg holes together. Fill out leotards with something to give them fullness as you sew, such as a pillow or bag of fiberfill. Stuff fiberfill between both leotards, and sew together at necklines. (Note: The fiberfill gives a more rounded effect and acts as padding to keep warm.)
Drape boas across and around the body; safety-pin in place. Sew leotards together at neckline, hand-stitching in place every 4 inches. Remove bag from sewn leotards
For the hat, download and print chicken's comb template. Use template to cut two pieces of red felt. Stitch combs together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, leaving the bottom open. Turn right-side-out; stuff peaks with batting. Stretch hat over an upside-down kitchen bowl or other rounded object; attach comb using hot-glue gun on a low setting.
For the feet, trim rolled edge of gloves at the opening, stuff fingers with batting. Slip shoe into glove, palm side down. Pull glove taut so fingers arch up (to prevent tripping); Use hot glue to secure bottom edge of glove to top of back of shoe. Cut slit in center of glove from tongue of shoe to end of glove, and cut notches by shoe tongue. Fold edges into shoe; secure with hot glue.