Saddle Questions

[ThreeOfSeven]

One of my hens has been having a horrible time with another dominant hen. The dominant hen mounts her, and the result is that all of the other chicken's saddle feathers have been stripped away. I moved the dominant hen into another coop for evenings, but I'm not able to separate them during the day.

Background: I have 10 hens, 2 medium size coops, and during the day, the hens have 3 run areas. Two runs have roofs, and the "outside" run has netting overhead (awful hawk problem). There's plenty of paraphernalia in the coops -- logs, free-standing roosts, etc. One coop (where the de-feathered girl sleeps) now houses 6 hens, and the other coop houses 4 hens. There's plenty of roost space in the coops. (Isn't that what everyone does when you start with 4 hens and then up it to 10 hens? Add more coops and runs?)

So, moving the dominant hen away from the "poor girl" in the evenings didn't stop the behavior. I bought some saddles, Poor Girl is now sporting her first saddle. And since everyone likes pictures!

So, I'm thinking the fit looks okay. It's a large saddle. I also bought a small-size saddle, so that's my only other option. She is obviously picking at the straps.

How often should I remove it?
Should I let that area breathe or immediately put on a fresh, clean saddle?
What are your experiences? Will the saddle help stop the dominant behavior of the other hen? Or will this end up being an ongoing problem?

Any other advice on managing this issue will be appreciated!!!

 

[MysteryChicken]

The best hen saddle design is this one.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0816VNKPY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The regular single strap types, like you have, the hens seem to take off quite easily.
I have hens that keep weaseling out of their's, so I'm swapping out those ones.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

The best hen saddle design is this one.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0816VNKPY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The regular single strap types, like you have, the hens seem to take off quite easily.
I have hens that keep weaseling out of their's, so I'm swapping out those ones.

That is a nice design. I'm watching my girl to see what she does with the saddle, and I added that other design in my shopping cart. Thanks!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of my hens has been having a horrible time with another dominant hen. The dominant hen mounts her, and the result is that all of the other chicken's saddle feathers have been stripped away. I moved the dominant hen into another coop for evenings, but I'm not able to separate them during the day.

Background: I have 10 hens, 2 medium size coops, and during the day, the hens have 3 run areas. Two runs have roofs, and the "outside" run has netting overhead (awful hawk problem). There's plenty of paraphernalia in the coops -- logs, free-standing roosts, etc. One coop (where the de-feathered girl sleeps) now houses 6 hens, and the other coop houses 4 hens. There's plenty of roost space in the coops. (Isn't that what everyone does when you start with 4 hens and then up it to 10 hens? Add more coops and runs?)

So, moving the dominant hen away from the "poor girl" in the evenings didn't stop the behavior. I bought some saddles, Poor Girl is now sporting her first saddle. And since everyone likes pictures!
So, I'm thinking the fit looks okay. It's a large saddle. I also bought a small-size saddle, so that's my only other option. She is obviously picking at the straps.

How often should I remove it?
Should I let that area breathe or immediately put on a fresh, clean saddle?
What are your experiences? Will the saddle help stop the dominant behavior of the other hen? Or will this end up being an ongoing problem?

Any other advice on managing this issue will be appreciated!!!

When I used saddles, I left them on all the time but did check the skin underneath at least once a week.

I used to make my own similar to the link below. You may need to check how the elastic is laying under the wings if she continues to pick at it - may be a feather is being pinched/pulled on. Mine never really messed with the elastic much at all, so see if the fit is good.

As for the mounting hen. Likely she will continue the behavior. Is she laying eggs at all?


https://www.etsy.com/listing/723909...n+saddle&ref=sr_gallery-1-6&frs=1&bes=1&col=1

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

When I used saddles, I left them on all the time but did check the skin underneath at least once a week.

I used to make my own similar to the link below. You may need to check how the elastic is laying under the wings if she continues to pick at it - may be a feather is being pinched/pulled on. Mine never really messed with the elastic much at all, so see if the fit is good.

As for the mounting hen. Likely she will continue the behavior. Is she laying eggs at all?


https://www.etsy.com/listing/723909...n+saddle&ref=sr_gallery-1-6&frs=1&bes=1&col=1

That's a nice design too, with the v-cutout shape.

She's not messing with the elastic all the time. In the picture, it was minutes after putting the saddle on her. I'll keep an eye on her throughout the day.

As for the mounting hen. She's a Black Australorp, and I have 2 of them. I'm not sure if she's laying eggs. One went broody for a couple of days, but she's out of the nesting box today. I should take some acrylic paint and mark one of them, then I'll be able to tell. LOL!

 

[MysteryChicken]

That is a nice design. I'm watching my girl to see what she does with the saddle, and I added that other design in my shopping cart. Thanks!!

Okay, sounds good.
You're welcome.

 

[khind]

When I used saddles, I left them on all the time but did check the skin underneath at least once a week.

I used to make my own similar to the link below. You may need to check how the elastic is laying under the wings if she continues to pick at it - may be a feather is being pinched/pulled on. Mine never really messed with the elastic much at all, so see if the fit is good.

As for the mounting hen. Likely she will continue the behavior. Is she laying eggs at all?


https://www.etsy.com/listing/723909...n+saddle&ref=sr_gallery-1-6&frs=1&bes=1&col=1

I've used these saddles (the one in the large picture here, same seller) and I likethem for the material (sturdy but not hot) and the v-cut. But I always freak out and worry when putting them on my hens because the 1 piece elastic means I have to pull their wings thru and I'm afraid of hurting them. I also wonder whether the elastic gives enough or might be too taut. Do you ever use a different type of elastic or a longer piece in the ones you've made? Do you ever have similar concerns about fit (including about the elastic eventually cutting in to the skin)? I wonder if I'm just being too concerned about nothing...

 

[Weeg]

The best hen saddle design is this one.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0816VNKPY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The regular single strap types, like you have, the hens seem to take off quite easily.
I have hens that keep weaseling out of their's, so I'm swapping out those ones.

you have no idea how lon gI have been trying to create a saddle with a design like this! All of my old ones I bought cut there wings by the straps and I have been working on a saddle with a design like this but haven't figured it out. Thank yo so much! Now I have a great idea!

 

[MysteryChicken]

you have no idea how lon gI have been trying to create a saddle with a design like this! All of my old ones I bought cut there wings by the straps and I have been working on a saddle with a design like this but haven't figured it out. Thank yo so much! Now I have a great idea!

You're welcome.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've used these saddles (the one in the large picture here, same seller) and I likethem for the material (sturdy but not hot) and the v-cut. But I always freak out and worry when putting them on my hens because the 1 piece elastic means I have to pull their wings thru and I'm afraid of hurting them. I also wonder whether the elastic gives enough or might be too taut. Do you ever use a different type of elastic or a longer piece in the ones you've made? Do you ever have similar concerns about fit (including about the elastic eventually cutting in to the skin)? I wonder if I'm just being too concerned about nothing...

No, I made mine like that with one piece of elastic. My birds could get out of them if they wanted to.
I never had a problem with the elastic cutting into the skin, but I did check fit several times a week.