Hi fellow chicken lovers!

[Jesseanne]

I have had chickens for exactly one year now. I have 13 hens and 1 rooster. For never having had any experience with chickens, the first year went pretty well. They have a nice chicken coup and they free range everyday in our back yard which is about an acre in size. I do have one concern that troubles me. Our rooster is so hard on the hens. Every one of the 13 girls has a bald spot on their backs as a result of his vigorous mating. He grabs them by the neck with his beak and pulls feathers out there, too. They try to run away from him and when he catches them they squawk loudly. Now that the sun is getting so hot the hens bald backs are getting sunburned . Is this normal? Is there anything that I can do? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[paddock36]

You need to get some chicken saddles. They really do work. I have used them myself and they are not hard to make if you know how to sew a little. I have made some too.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

and a Texas size:

You need some chicken saddles.

 

[rebecky1305]

Try this post here on BYC. It has some patterns for chicken saddles.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4031-Patterns
Or if you don't want to make them try Ebay.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio.

 

[Lolita]

 

[Jesseanne]

Thanks for the welcome and the advice about saddles for my hens. This leads to another question: My chickens are not accustom to being picked up and held. How do I get the saddles on them. Would you suggest I catch them and put them on or is it better to wait until they are asleep on their roosts and then put them on?

 

[al6517]

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!