Learning Curve for Roosters and Saddles

[ColtHandorf]

So through necessity I had to place a saddle on one of my Silver-laced English Orpingtons. After being sliced open twice I felt like I was ready to scream. Finding a saddle that fits a hen that large can be a bit of a challenge so I went with the largest one I could find. Of course it took Sterling the rooster a few days to figure out how to mount her again but instead of learning correctly, he discovered he could get his feet under the saddle from behind/the side so for the third time Duchess found herself in the infirmary (dog kennel in the bird room) until she was healed enough to go back outside. I modified her saddle by adding denim from a torn pair of pant legs on either side so think like a blanket effect under a saddle. This has kept her nice and un-bloodied; however, none of the roosters (and that's three) seem to be able to successfully breed with her now.

I thought originally it had more to do with them metaphorically spraying the pen down with testosterone anytime one of them mounted a hen. The actively breeding rooster tries to do a quick job while one or both of the other ones rush over to knock him off and take their turn to get knocked off. But the more I've watched the more it's obvious they are actually successfully making contact with the un-saddled hens. It's just Duchess they aren't able to grip correctly. I've even seen them mount her from the front in an attempt to stay on.

For those of you that use saddles, do you notice your roosters having a hard time breeding? Or are my boys just clumsy and not able to figure it out. I don't want her injured of course, but I hate her saddle cutting into the fertility rate I was experiencing (100%) before her injuries.

 

[Cyprus]

I've only used homemade saddles made of VetWrap and my cockerel never had an issue. VetWrap has good grip.

 

[aart]

I've only used homemade saddles made of VetWrap and my cockerel never had an issue. VetWrap has good grip.

Pics?
VetWrap over something stiffer?
Would give a good grip.

 

[Cyprus]

Pics?
VetWrap over something stiffer?
Would give a good grip.

Just VetWrap and one small strip of ducttape for securing it.

I no longer feel comfortable sharing images or directions on here for anything new that I come up with, since I've found some people to not give credit where credit is due. And another person who stalked me using images of my birds that I uploaded here.

I now upload my stuff somewhere else.

 

[50-45-1]

The actively breeding rooster tries to do a quick job while one or both of the other ones rush over to knock him off and take their turn to get knocked off. B

Why 3 roosters?
How many hens do you have for three roosters?
How much room does your flock have.
Do your roosters have spurs or need toenails clipped? That will make it worse for the unfeathered overbread hen, who is getting gang banged.

 

[aart]

Just VetWrap and one small strip of ducttape for securing it.

I no longer feel comfortable sharing images or directions on here for anything new that I come up with, since I've found some people to not give credit where credit is due. And another person who stalked me using images of my birds that I uploaded here.

I now upload my stuff somewhere else.

Well, you've gotten over the location thing, maybe time to go for images.
It sure would help when describing the things you've 'invented'...and this really sounds like a good one.

 

[Cyprus]

Well, you've gotten over the location thing, maybe time to go for images.
It sure would help when describing the things you've 'invented'...and this really sounds like a good one.

Tell you what. I'll post it on another website and anyone interested can PM me for the link.
I will say this is the best saddle I've ever seen used. Holds up well, great grip, doesn't inhibit movement and allows for feather regrowth without messing with the female's ability to adapt to a changing climate.
Can also be easily sized down without having to cut anything.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Why 3 roosters?
How many hens do you have for three roosters?
How much room does your flock have.
Do your roosters have spurs or need toenails clipped? That will make it worse for the unfeathered overbread hen, who is getting gang banged.

The hen in question was a single hen with a single rooster and was injured multiple times before the other flock was purchased. Sterling's spurs and nails have both been trimmed. It doesn't help. Duchess, the injured hen, is very subordinate. She squats when she feels threatened and that includes by me, the roosters, other hens, or the geese. The birds have something like 1500 square feet of space when they are confined to the breeding pen and an additional 6000 or so when they are turned onto the fenced yard in the evenings. Currently there are three roosters, three adult hens, one pullet that is a few weeks away from breeding and six younger pullets that are several months away from breeding.

This is not my first time keeping chickens, and I am aware that currently three roosters is too many for that number of hens. However, when you are working with rare breeds like Silver-laced Orpingtons, I'm not willing to just toss the extras to people who won't be helping promote the color. The roosters are all pretty gentlemanly and the third rooster doesn't even look at hens to breed. Half the time he hangs out with them in the nest boxes to avoid the other two. The only option for separating them at this point would be to toss them into the goose pen which is a sure fire way to see them get killed.

As the number of roosters currently does not impact the initial question nor does is relate to her injury I'll redirect the attention back to the original question on whether or not other people's roosters seem to have issues breeding hens when they are wearing their saddles.

 

[Cyprus]

The hen in question was a single hen with a single rooster and was injured multiple times before the other flock was purchased. Sterling's spurs and nails have both been trimmed. It doesn't help. Duchess, the injured hen, is very subordinate. She squats when she feels threatened and that includes by me, the roosters, other hens, or the geese. The birds have something like 1500 square feet of space when they are confined to the breeding pen and an additional 6000 or so when they are turned onto the fenced yard in the evenings. Currently there are three roosters, three adult hens, one pullet that is a few weeks away from breeding and six younger pullets that are several months away from breeding.

This is not my first time keeping chickens, and I am aware that currently three roosters is too many for that number of hens. However, when you are working with rare breeds like Silver-laced Orpingtons, I'm not willing to just toss the extras to people who won't be helping promote the color. The roosters are all pretty gentlemanly and the third rooster doesn't even look at hens to breed. Half the time he hangs out with them in the nest boxes to avoid the other two. The only option for separating them at this point would be to toss them into the goose pen which is a sure fire way to see them get killed.

As the number of roosters currently does not impact the initial question nor does is relate to her injury I'll redirect the attention back to the original question on whether or not other people's roosters seem to have issues breeding hens when they are wearing their saddles.

To answer that, no mine do not experience that issue. That said, I only have one cockerel who's ever experienced a saddle.
If you are interested in learning how my own was built, you should know where to find the post.

 

[ColtHandorf]

To answer that, no mine do not experience that issue. That said, I only have one cockerel who's ever experienced a saddle.
If you are interested in learning how my own was built, you should know where to find the post.

I saw the post. It looks interesting. I'm not sure how the big birds would do with it. But it does look perfect for bantams. I ought to send you the "large" saddle I ordered the first time. It would fit your D'uccles perfectly! lol