Chicken Saddle?

[Fluffy_Feathers]

I'm going to make a chicken saddle because my rooster likes to mate with this chicken a lot and it's rubbing off her feathers. My main question is will this cause her to overheat easily? It is starting to get warm here in the Midwest, and will get about 20°F warmer in the summer, so I don't want her overheating.

Also, if there is anything else I should probably know about chicken saddles it would be nice to know... Or maybe some alternatives

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You will want to monitor your hens closely when they are wearing saddles. They do help with covering the back, but your girls will still have some rubbing/wear on the feathers just from the friction of fabric and rooster.

Mine did well wearing saddles, but I did look underneath it every few days for any abrasions, cuts/scrapes. A saddle can still flip up and the rooster's nails/spurs can still do some harm. Also keeping the rooster spurs blunted/trimmed will help, there is a delicate balancing act going on, so a spur or nail can slip under the saddle or cut a hen under the wings.

You don't mention what state you are in, just that temps are 20degrees warmer in summer(?) We have hot, humid weather where I am, but I run fans in summer/fall in both the coop and run. This does not necessarily make things cooler, but it does move air which seems to give the flock a bit of reprieve on those dead air days. Providing shade and fresh cool water also helps.

One more note...any feathers that are rubbed, worn or broken off and the feather shaft is still intact in the skin will not be replaced until your hen molts.

 

[Elfer]

I also have saddle questions. Can they dust bathe with these?

How well can they fly with them? Mine want to be in the high rafters of my poorly designed coop, although they have lower perches. This also means it's hard for me to catch them, so frequent removal will be difficult

For free ranging, will this increase loss by predators? Most bought saddles are in bright colors including red. Will these increase attention from predators? I can't keep light colored chickens, because the Cooper's hawks spot them. So, I have thought about making or requesting brown or camo saddles. I'm in Ga., so I guess black might be too hot in summer. I have some lt. brown patterned cloth. Instructions call for 3 layers, but maybe 2 would be cooler? They mainly stay in the heavy shade, but the coop gets hot at night.

I have some girls with neck injuries. I isolated for healing, gave away some roos, added girls. But some have scarring that may never have feathers again, and certain girls are still getting pecked. Has anyone heard of a hooded saddle, or a bonnet or scarf for the neck that would stay on or not cause choking? I use Bluecote and Peck-no-more, which helps.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I also have saddle questions. Can they dust bathe with these?

How well can they fly with them? Mine want to be in the high rafters of my poorly designed coop, although they have lower perches. This also means it's hard for me to catch them, so frequent removal will be difficult

For free ranging, will this increase loss by predators? Most bought saddles are in bright colors including red. Will these increase attention from predators? I can't keep light colored chickens, because the Cooper's hawks spot them. So, I have thought about making or requesting brown or camo saddles. I'm in Ga., so I guess black might be too hot in summer. I have some lt. brown patterned cloth. Instructions call for 3 layers, but maybe 2 would be cooler? They mainly stay in the heavy shade, but the coop gets hot at night.

I have some girls with neck injuries. I isolated for healing, gave away some roos, added girls. But some have scarring that may never have feathers again, and certain girls are still getting pecked. Has anyone heard of a hooded saddle, or a bonnet or scarf for the neck that would stay on or not cause choking? I use Bluecote and Peck-no-more, which helps.

I'll try to answer the best I can Welcome To BYC

Yes, they can still take a dust bath with a saddle on.

I don't know how well they can fly? Mine had no problems getting on their roost, but my roosting bars are probably only 5ft high at the most.

I've don't free range due to predators - it's very possible that a saddle could inhibit movement, make it easier for a hen to be snatched or even get caught up in bushes/briars.

The saddles I use only have 2 layers, but anytime you put something on a chicken it needs to be monitored very closely. Like I mentioned previously, I did inspect my girls every couple of days. Saddles also need to be looked at for any loose strings, etc.

I'm sorry to hear that you have some injured girls. If enough damage is done, it's possible that they may not grow back feathers over bald spot. A lot of times new growth may not emerge until they molt.
Pecking can be from a lot of things, so adding roosts, more space and increasing protein may help.

 

[HelHen]

Hullo everyone.hope this post is relevant here.i am new to backyard hen keeping and these are my first two.please see pic as I was sold 2 hens who are now about 5 months old..and 2 of them have started making weird crowing noises..I see saddle feathers developing but keep trying to convince myself they are hens and not roosters..What does this beautiful specimen look like to you..

 

[sourland]

@HelHen, that's a cockerel.

 

[HelHen]

Well..I guess I can't ignore his beauty anymore and call him a good girl...thank you for you reply

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @HelHen Welcome To BYC we're glad your here!

You have a handsome cockerel there

 

[HelHen]

Hi @HelHen Welcome To BYC we're glad your here!

You have a handsome cockerel there

Thank you ,I think so too,even though for the past 2 months i have been telling Him.. what a beautiful girl She is..hahaha..but I'm sure he loved all the kisses..