Free Chicken Apron/Saddle Pattern

[Lynn Manes]

I watched a youtube vid and it was easy after watching 

 
Nancy

Loved the video. Thanks

 

[sonshine15]

Everyone has great info!! I did a cut out one from the stretchy fleece, (I dont have a machine set up) and then added a type of wing on it to cover my hens shoulders. She's the only one who has bald shoulders from the roo. May sound like a dumb question but I'm cold all the time so hard to tell: Will that little space the fleece covers on her make her too hot? She's been in the shade since I put it on her and has not been panting. Her poor shoulders are literally blistered from the sun so I was trying to weigh out if I need to go ahead and sew one now or can it wait till I get my machine put up?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Show us your handi-work sonshine15. The birds usually have downy feathers which are warmer than fleece. So I think she'll be okay in the fleece. and as you say it is protecting her skin from sunburn other than the wing areas. Maybe you can put a high SPF waterproof sunscreen on her on the scorcher days until you get the wing attachments. Poor girl... Your birds are lucky to have you.

 

[sonshine15]

I had to take it off of her. She stayed in the shade and away from the others. She's normally the roos favorite. I'm in the process of finding fabric to use that's stiff enough to not blow or be tipped up using the same type pattern for the wing cover, this means I have to sew.....................lol. All I did was tack the wing cover to the saddle, one tack app 1 inch down from the saddle wing openings. This kept it over her wings. Then one tack in the middle of the back. I'll try to get a pic but may be a bit. Certainly is nothing fancy but the only material I had that was stretchy fleece was purple. She looked to be wearing a purple robe

Hubby and I have been putting up an electric fence netting that's been quite a challenge. We are in coyote territory. So far this past year no losses with the exception of some babies to a skunk Busy is an understatement..........then the riding mower broke down so waiting on parts to it and overun with grass getting too tall. Other than that its business as usual

Any suggestions for a type of material and also would denim be ok? Just going to baste stitch it.

 

[sonshine15]

Keep in mind this is just two cut wing slots and out of stretchy fabric. I do not like to sew.........I tacked one tack app 1 each below each slot for wing and one tack on the back to keep it in place. She's the only hen with bald shoulders and now her head's getting that way too



And here's Zoro, the overzealous romeo:

 

[Lynn Manes]

I had to take it off of her. She stayed in the shade and away from the others. She's normally the roos favorite. I'm in the process of finding fabric to use that's stiff enough to not blow or be tipped up using the same type pattern for the wing cover, this means I have to sew.....................lol. All I did was tack the wing cover to the saddle, one tack app 1 inch down from the saddle wing openings. This kept it over her wings. Then one tack in the middle of the back. I'll try to get a pic but may be a bit. Certainly is nothing fancy but the only material I had that was stretchy fleece was purple. She looked to be wearing a purple robe

Hubby and I have been putting up an electric fence netting that's been quite a challenge. We are in coyote territory. So far this past year no losses with the exception of some babies to a skunk Busy is an understatement..........then the riding mower broke down so waiting on parts to it and overun with grass getting too tall. Other than that its business as usual

Any suggestions for a type of material and also would denim be ok? Just going to baste stitch it.

I've not made any chicken saddles yet for mine, but as a toy breed dog clothing designer, for non sewers you can buy liquid thread which seals your edges and glues down seams. It keeps garments from fraying at the seams. Most fabric stores carry it. Can't remember the brand name, but any clerk should know if you ask for liquid thread.I use it to make my doggy ties.As far as saddle fabric goes, I've been reading here that most like denim.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Aileens or something like that is a Fabric Tack brand.

Good job with the saddles sonshine. I understand you taking it off. But the other birds and she will get used to it. It does take a day or two. You could try colors closer to her own color as well. that helps actually.

 

[sonshine15]

Thank you! I'll get some of the liquid stitch next trip into town!

 

[RubyPriestess]

One of my favorite hens happens to be my big boy's favorite as well. Being a first time chicken owner, I was unaware that Roo's were capable of such feather damage when mounting. Geez! As soon as I discovered this thread, I got right to work on making a saddle.

It was the first time I've ever touched a sewing machine, but lucky for me my aunt taught me how it works. I don't know why I thought it was so difficult to use before. It's actually quite enjoyable.

My first chicken saddle came out pretty great! I'm unsure of what sort of material it is (it was a scrap piece that was in the material bucket), but the edges would fray with threads when I cut the shape out, so I don't think it's totally cotton? It is very thin and rather light, which is good due to the extreme drought and heat we are currently in this summer.
I didn't have any snaps, so I used velcro to fasten it closed for the time being. I know it won't hold up in the rain if it does happen to sprinkle, so I'll make adjustments once I buy some.



That night I had gone out to the coop and placed it on the hen. Since it was dark and she is the most handled, she sat right in my lap the whole time without a fuss.
Here's my lovely Buff Orpington hen named Fluffy wearing the saddle while out on the flocks morning free-range. It stayed on through the whole night until morning -- and she's still wearing it as of now (3 days later). The material sometimes folds on the upper back, but overall it has not flipped up or done anything wonky that has made her struggle or uncomfortable.


Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread! I can see two other hens starting to lose some lower back feathers, so I'm going to make a few more just in case they get to a point where they need them.

 

[sonshine15]

Good job!!! My fleece stretch one worked but it's too hot, had to take it off. I made another one of denim and stitched it by hand (haven't got my liquid stitch yet but was desperate) and it didn't fit well even after using the pattern. Soo off to try again or try to encourage her to go broody while she's separated from the roo.