Hen Saver – When Do You Saddle Up??

[OneMountainAcres]

View attachment 2441072This is Alice, an SLW I had years ago. She had a condition where her feathers refused to grow back and future molts were incomplete. She went an entire year with no back feathers and was getting badly sunburned. She also had naked wing shoulders. I made this saddle with shoulder ruffles that covered all her bare spots. She went berserk when I first installed it on her, but it was nothing compared to the hysterics of the rest of the flock when she burst out of the coop wearing the thing. She and the others adjusted to it quickly, though.

She was one of just a few hens that tolerated wearing a garment.

I had my first request for wing guards a week or so ago....I swear, they made my model look like a butterfly lol. Ana didn't mind them though.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

I had my first request for wing guards a week or so ago....I swear, they made my model look like a butterfly lol. Ana didn't mind them though.

View attachment 2441099View attachment 2441100

This saddle and model are fabulous.

Thank you for weighing in. I have been concerned about her reduced natural protection and the potential for injury.

It's a good point about the fit making a big difference on the individual hen. Certainly makes me feel less silly for buying 3 different styles before I've decided if I'm putting a saddle on her at all

All these replies are so helpful in figuring that out, and if she doesn't end up wearing one, she may have a sister in the future who does.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

View attachment 2441072This is Alice, an SLW I had years ago. She had a condition where her feathers refused to grow back and future molts were incomplete. She went an entire year with no back feathers and was getting badly sunburned. She also had naked wing shoulders. I made this saddle with shoulder ruffles that covered all her bare spots. She went berserk when I first installed it on her, but it was nothing compared to the hysterics of the rest of the flock when she burst out of the coop wearing the thing. She and the others adjusted to it quickly, though.

She was one of just a few hens that tolerated wearing a garment.

Poor naked Alice! I'd read it's a good idea to separate for a few minutes when you first put the saddle on so the others don't pick on her when she's reacting to the new thing on her back <--I may have even read that in one of your posts when researching this last week.

 

[azygous]

Yes, they may attack thinking it's a scary new predator of sorts. Chickens attack any chicken showing up suddenly with something different about them.

In Alice's case, it worked in her favor. She emerged from the coop so suddenly and presented such an apparition that the flock scattered and hid until they finally recognized her in her new get-up. By that time she had adjusted and so did they.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Yes, they may attack thinking it's a scary new predator of sorts. Chickens attack any chicken showing up suddenly with something different about them.

In Alice's case, it worked in her favor. She emerged from the coop so suddenly and presented such an apparition that the flock scattered and hid until they finally recognized her in her new get-up. By that time she had adjusted and so did they.

This made me LOL. The picture you posted with her ruffles really ties the story together. Go, Alice, go!

 

[HiEverybirdy]

I love the photo! I have a little hen that is attached to our rooster like that, she won't leave his side. And tho her feathers started getting broken and thin, with bare spots beginning, after molting she has grown them all back. So far, 2 months later, she still looks good. I am following this thread to learn from the experts' advice.

I thought I responded but was moving too quickly earlier That's so nice your girl's grown all her feathers back. Our first 2 molters are just wrapping up, and the new feathers look amazing.

One reason I've been concerned is people say it takes until their molt to grow missing feathers back. Baby Carrots is only 6 months old. Her first real molt probably won't be until next fall? It'd be a bummer if this progressed and she ended up bald until then! She'll need chicken hair plugs.

 

[aart]

It'd be a bummer if this progressed and she ended up bald until then! She'll need chicken hair plugs.

Nah....she'll fine fine, just ugly.
Have had more than a few barebacked birds, never any wounds and they made it fine thru winter here even.

Was thinking about this bird, wondering if she could be being pecked as well.
I had one that pecked her own pin feathers all one winter.

 

[coach723]

Sorry, just saw this this morning. Had a 4.5 hour oral surgery yesterday so was not online.
I have used saddles on occasion, it just depends on the bird in question. I generally make my own. If it's just rough looking I don't tend to put them on. If the skin is getting injured or really irritated then I use them to give them a chance to heal, it also can help when you have a very submissive hen that gets a lot more attention despite there being plenty of others to bother. Some hens tolerate them well, some don't, so there is no one answer.
Sometimes those fuzzy under feathers being exposed will attract picking from others also, covering with a saddle may help with that. If you decide to try, just supervise to see how she reacts to it. If her behaviour is odd enough then she could draw attack by the others. I would say that more of mine have tolerated it than not, but I have a couple that I wouldn't even try. I also had one escape artist that could get out of anything I put on her no matter how it was made or attached.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Nah....she'll fine fine, just ugly.
Have had more than a few barebacked birds, never any wounds and they made it fine thru winter here even.

Was thinking about this bird, wondering if she could be being pecked as well.
I had one that pecked her own pin feathers all one winter.

So yours was pecking her own feathers, or was she being pecked? Or both? Does that happen because of protein or nerves, or was it just her thing?

This flock hasn't had feather/pecking issues that I've detected. Only 2 seem to like grooming others, but their affection is usually cockerel-directed. In addition, Carrots, the pullet in question (we won't tell her you called her ugly), is bravehearted and social, not submissive.

Meanwhile, when the cockerel jumps on Easter Eggers, a few feathers often fly off. You mentioned his technique could be off, which makes sense. He's young and clumsy, and the EEs don't offer much area for him to put his big feet. They came into lay within the past 6 weeks, and this has made him more interested in the EEs and vice versa. That's why my gut's been saying cockerel based.

However, as much time as I spend watching chickens these days, I'm new to it and painfully aware of how much I don't know, so I'll keep an eye out. Those feathers may look extra yummy during these cold months.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Just a thought , maybe give them more (or at least the problem birds) protein?? Feathers need protein and with out it they can get brittle.