Chicken saddle making question

[ella]

Glad to help.

Good polar fleece holds it's shape really well even though it's stretchy.

Yes, I've had problems with picking. It's the worst when the young hens start laying, they get very crabby. It's really hard on them physically. It's eased up now that most of the girls are approaching 6 years old.

A few things that helped me:

Getting rid of supplimental lighting.

Adding chick starter to their regular food, about 50/50. I always have free choice oyster shell available for them.

Having flat roosts where they can get away from each other.

Having at least 2 feeding stations.

When I identified the one hen that was causing the most trouble I clipped the end of her beak. Took off about 1/4'' off. It bled like crazy and freaked me out but it did end her picking. I still have her, it grew back by fall and she still doesn't pick but I don't know if I'd do it again.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

If you need to do it again, don't clip quite as much. It's like the toe nails with a quick. You can clip just the very tip and not get blood and help with the pecking problem.

 

[Biddieacres]

Farmer Kitty, in regard to your original post I believe denim is a real good choice. I found a woman who makes them and prefers denim actually. Sometimes she will line the inside of the denim with fleece but just for warmth in the winter. good luck!

ella, I made a quick saddle tonight when I noticed another hen pecking at her wound and she was bleeding again!

I didn't have polar fleece but I had a square of felt. I cut like you said but I think the hole for the tail I cut a little too big. It just about covered the wound. The picture you have on your website covers more of the chickens tail which is what I need. I will try it again tomorrow on another piece of felt maybe cutting a smaller hole for the tail.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
The denim worked real well. I used just straight denim and she did fine with it. So did another one I used it for.

As this thread is over a year old please don't respond to my original post. Do help the others though.

 

[chickenfever]

I also tried these last night. Bought fleece yesterday and cut out the saddles and put them on while they were bedded down on their roosts. Worked really well as they were calmer when I was doing it and didn't run around at all afterward, just went back to bed.

These seem to be working great! A little bit tricky trying to figure out the size and shape. The first was too big, the second too small. But they both worked regardless and will do the job for now. Thanks for the suggestions.

I don't know what I would do without this forum.

 

[Biddieacres]

Quote:
The denim worked real well. I used just straight denim and she did fine with it. So did another one I used it for.

As this thread is over a year old please don't respond to my original post. Do help the others though.

Never even noticed the date....just trying to help out if I can.

 

[alyssa558]

What would you suggest for a "summer" saddle? It is too hot in NC for fleece, at least in July!

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Here is a friendly bump to see if anyone else can answer this. I would think something cotton or maybe even a seersucker fabric would work. What about an old tshirt?

 

[alyssa558]

Thanks for the bump! However, someone made me some delightful saddles. They even have hearts sewn into them! I still think its too hot for them, though.

OK, I have had this niggling theory about my chickens' bare butts.

I believe the problem started with a protein deficiency, which has subsequently been sorted out. (Cat food and 3 fried eggs a day!) But the bare butts persisted! Then, one of my bare butt girls, all of a sudden, grew all her butt feathers back very quickly and is now gorgeous. She was the first chick to mature, too.

Now, I have another bare butt hen who hasn't laid for about two, maybe three weeks. All of a sudden, she has pin feathers all over, including her butt!

So, here's my theory. I think the butt feathers will not grow back until they molt. They are molting in the order in which they matured, which makes sense. So my two remaining bare butt girls were one of the last to mature so I am hoping that they molt and get their butts back!

What do you think? Has anyone heard of this before?

 

[norcal]

I just bought some cotton fabric "pieces" at the store. My concern is that they won't be stiff enough to stay in place. Anyone??

Thinking I should cut up my husbands old jeans. ??