Before I put chicken saddles on all my hens, I was sewing up a hen a night. They would return to coop ripped open straight down the back or under the wings. At first it will look like the skin is gone but it was always still there - just needed to be pulled back into place and sewn up. I initially used regular needle and thread but finally got a box of prethreaded suture cutting needles from my vet (she gave me the box of 30). Sewing with those was a dream - quick and easy. Before sewing them up I wash with Betadine and throughly clean out wound, then after I sew them up I apply Neosporin and spray with "Furall" (yellow antibacterial that helps wounds dry and prevents picking and flies.) I kept the sewn up hens in a recovery pen for about a week or two till the wound was healed and the feathers had regrown. Now everyone wears a "saddle" and I have NOT had to sew up anyone since.
By the way, they are quite calm about the whole procedure, and lie quietly. I lay them on their side and put a towel over their head and they don't even move. As soon as I finish they get a treat which they gobble down as if nothing happened.
By the way, they are quite calm about the whole procedure, and lie quietly. I lay them on their side and put a towel over their head and they don't even move. As soon as I finish they get a treat which they gobble down as if nothing happened.
