Exposed skin in winter

[azygous]

If you sew, there are lots of patterns for free on the internet for saddles.

 

[azygous]

Oh, also if you do discover the secret feather picker, the best solution is pinless peepers. I have them on two serial feather pickers right now, and they have stopped their naughty behavior in its tracks.

 

[Blooie]

We don't always catch "feather pickers" in the act. Many times they'll do this on the roost at bedtime. I had one Blue Andalusian that looked just like this. No mites, no other feather loss - just that one spot. I never saw anyone pecking at her, but that bald spot was driving me nuts when I'd see it.

One night I went out to the coop late after remembering that I hadn't put the lid on the metal can with the chicken feed in it. I did what I always did when I had to go out there after the chickens had roosted and rubber-banded a threadbare blue washcloth over the lens of the flashlight. (Gave me enough light to see by but not so much that it woke up the Sleeping Beauties) Anyway, the Blue was roosted next to an Ohio Buckeye. Blue had her head downward, and that doggone Buckeye was methodically pecking at and around that bare spot, almost like she was doing it in her sleep! Chicken behavior usually seems pretty easy to figure out, but this was just plain weird. I don't know if she didn't want Blue right there and was trying to get her to get off that spot or what her problem was. Both birds were sorta in the middle of the pecking order, so they weren't too intense on tussling that out. I never did see the buckeye do this during the daylight hours. But I did check them for a few nights after that and she was still doing it.

I tried moving Blue to a different spot on the roost, but she never moved on her own, so I just gave up. There wasn't a thing I liked about those Buckeyes anyway, so it was no hardship to add this one to the freezer - not that she had any redeeming qualities on the dinner plate either. <sigh>

 

[Eggcessive]

You can make a one piece no-sew hen apron/saddle out of a 7x9 piece of polar fleece. Cut 2 slits 1 1/2 to 2 inch long for the wings. Slip it over the wings and it will stay on, then trim to fit. You can Google polar fleece hen saddles and apron, and look at images for how they look.

I agree with Bluie, in that chickens will pick feathers while hanging out on a roost or just sitting around. I also will try some BluKote spray in place of a saddle every other day, and then look for regrowth of feathers. Sometimes those feathers will not grow back until the nest full molt.

 

[sunflour]

You can make a one piece no-sew hen apron/saddle out of a 7x9 piece of polar fleece. Cut 2 slits 1 1/2 to 2 inch long for the wings. Slip it over the wings and it will stay on, then trim to fit. You can Google polar fleece hen saddles and apron, and look at images for how they look.

I agree with Bluie, in that chickens will pick feathers while hanging out on a roost or just sitting around. I also will try some BluKote spray in place of a saddle every other day, and then look for regrowth of feathers. Sometimes those feathers will not grow back until the nest full molt.

I was going to post the no sew aprons - a quick thing to use today....can use an old blanket, flannel shirt or any fabric with some insulation, until you have time and supplies to sew one.

 

[azygous]

There are even crochet patterns for saddles free on the internet if you don't sew. My neighbor made me several crocheted saddles that were stunning.