Just when you thought you knew…Saddles for Chickens? Chicken saddles?
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A “chicken saddle” may seem like a funny term. It creates a mental image of your hens, with saddles in place, clucking around the chicken coop like proud cowgirls. But in fact, chicken saddles are useful and protective garments used as a safety measure for your hens, especially if you have overly amorous roosters patrolling the coop or too many aggressive hens pecking away.
Chicken wearing saddle
What Are Chicken Saddles?
Chicken saddles are made of fabric with adjustable elastic attachments. Sometimes chicken saddles are called “aprons,” “chicken capes” or “hen or poultry saddles.” They are designed for positioning on the hen’s back, particularly during mating season, which is usually in the late spring or early summer.
Why does my hen need a Chicken Saddle?
Roosters are extremely aggressive while mating. A rooster will often dig into a hen’s back with his beak and claws which causes the hen to lose feathers and create soreness and bald spots. These bald spots can cause your hen health problems such as sunburn or lack of warmth after exposure to colder weather. Furthermore, your rooster may latch on to the hen’s exposed skin from the bald spot which is very painful for her. A hen with an exposed bald spot may also become the target of pecking by other aggressive hens. This can further damage a rooster’s skin or cause infection, redness or bleeding.
A chicken saddle helps protect your chicken’s back and wings during mating and gives further protection if she already has a bald spot from a rooster’s nails and spurs. It’s important to have a first aid kit accessible in your chicken coop which includesBanixx for Chixxthat works well for many topical wounds and abrasions, such as these bald spots.
Where Do I Get Chicken Saddles?
Choose the right saddle size for your chickens.
Fortunately, chicken saddles are inexpensive and readily available online at Amazon or other retailers. Many people choose to DIY (do-it-yourself) by using simple, free sewing patterns posted on the internet or get ideas from Pinterest or Etsy. Chicken saddles can be sewn using old clothes or jeans or miscellaneous fabric or denim. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or expensive. However, if you purchase a pre-made chicken saddle or choose to make them yourself, keep these few tips in mind:
- Determine the right size. There are large and giant hens, medium to large chickens or bantams and small sized breeds. Make sure you use the correct size for your chickens so the apron is snug and comfortable.
- Use cotton or denim material that’s flexible, washable and durable.
- Avoidflashy colors, especially RED! if you want to avoid drawing attention to the chicken, especially by the other hens. Try neutral colors or patterns that blend in with the chicken’s feathers and coloring.
- It goes without saying, but make sure you can put the saddle on with ease! Most patterns or pre-made versions have adjustable elastic straps for the wings and some have an opening for the hen’s head. There are lots of options, so look around before you make one or purchase it.
How to apply Your Chicken’s Saddle
To put the chicken saddle on a hen, try doing it around dusk when she’s on her roost. Most chicken saddles will slip easily through her wings and secure with Velcro, protecting her back area, especially the wings and tail. Hold and soothe your hen and after she calms down, gently pull the elastic under each wing. Shift the hen from one side of your arm to the other. Take your time and stay calm. There are a lot of YouTube videos showing easy ways to put on chicken saddles, so take a look at them before you try it.
At first your hens might fuss and peck at their new duds, but pretty soon your girls will adjust to their new wardrobe and strut their stuff around the coop!
Use Banixx for Chixx for Topical Skin Care including wounds, pecking sores, vent area infections and any chicken injuries or infections
Banixx for Chixx Spray
Banixx for CHIXXis a topical first-aid antiseptic spray that’s non-toxic and is a leading solution for many chicken wound care problems including:
- Pecking Sores
- Wound Care, Fungus, Cuts, Scrapes and Abrasions
- Raw Vent Area Injuries
- Bumblefoot
- Fowl Pox
- Chicken foot and Leg Injuries
Of note, Banixx for Chixx has zero color and has no medicinal or unusual scents. Some antiseptic sprays are purple in color that will cause alarm or trauma in birds.Banixx for CHIXXis a Must-Have for the backyard chicken owner and it’s 100% USA-made, earth-friendly, and of course, chicken-friendly!
For sure, we know by now that you care a lot about your chickens’ health – otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this blog! That’s why we hope you’ll come back to ourblogto learn more about how to keep your feathered friend happy and healthy. If, on the other hand, you are interested in tips onchicken coop accessoriesorhow to prevent bumblefoot…we have some suggestions there.
Sources
https://www.chickenfans.com/chicken-saddles-101/
https://www.walkerland.ca/chicken-saddle/
https://www.chickenfans.com/free-chicken-saddle-pattern-for-bantams-and-small-chickens/
