A Chicken Saddle Question

[JayBird+16]

OK, so I've got 10 girls and 2 Roo's and because of that ratio, all my girls wear saddles to protect their backs. My question is, do I, or should I take the saddles off at some point or can a hen spend her whole life in a saddle? Pros and cons please?

 

[lovemychix]

I leave mine on until the feathers grow back in and then give it a break. Once I see damage I put it back on. I don't think it hurts them to have them on for long periods of time. Mine don't seem to mind them at all.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

What about during the rainy season? Seems like if they get soaked and stay wet, they could damage the feathers/skin underneath?

eta: sorry, didn't mean to hijack, but I had the same questions, and thought I'd add a follow up question!

 

[substandardtim]

maybe its just me, but I would at least change the saddles out for clean ones every so often. looking for any sores or rubs on the hen just to make sure shes doing ok. habit that comes from blanketing my horses.

 

[JayBird+16]

I clean the saddles when they get dirty and then put them back on. I use to take them off, but decided it was just silly to go through all the trouble to grow back feathers just to let the roos pull them out again. I have never noticed any soars and the sadles are made out of canvas and don't tend to get wet. I just wanted to make sure nothing bad would happen if I left them on always.

 

[jwls4me]

anyone with pics of their chickens with their "clothes" on. My SIL is crafty and she made a saddle for one of my chicks but i have EE and the saddle pattern she used is for a big chicken. I will have to trim it down but not really sure how it should cover/ look.
jwls