Chicken saddles/aprons

[mattigil]

Hi all again!

So a few weeks ago we noticed that 3 of our hens were losing quite a lot of back feathers due to being the rooster's favourite. As we weren't able to immediately separate 3 chickens from the rest of the flock, I went online and ordered a chicken saddle to try on one of the hens before buy any more.

The saddle is quite flowery and colourful and was a bit loose on the hen. After putting the saddle on the hen and releasing her into the flock again, after a minute or 2 of realising what was on her, she went crazy, jumping around trying to attack it and the the rest of the flock who were now scared of her also tried attacking her and the saddle. I immediately took her saddle off but unfortunately the rooster seemed to still think that the hen was wearing a saddle and wanted to attack her. The poor hen was terrified and managed to hide herself in a corner, I took her and calmed her down a bit before releasing her back into the coup and allowing her to come out whenever she felt comfortable whilst keeping an eye on them. Thankfully things went back to normal and everyone got on fine. And after a couple of days DIY work, managed to make a small coop and run for the 3 hens to be separated for a while so they aren't hurt by the rooster for being his favourite hens.

But my main concern was as to why this happened with the saddle. I've looked on the product listing and there are so many good reviews and I've seen plenty of people using saddles online with no issues. I cannot think as to why this happened but could it be because the saddle was a bit loose or was it too colourful or was it because only one hen had one on?

Has anyone had any experiences with chicken saddles?

 

[MrsBiscuit]

I used to use them on my big orp girls, as the rooster is so big. I never had any problems (apart from getting them on!). Mine were plain heavy cream canvas and fitted pretty snugly. Sometimes there was only one hen wearing a saddle.

 

[Margaid]

I fitted a plan cream one to one of my Welsummers - I had seven other hens and there was no problem. I think it is important that they fit well so can't be dislodged or slide off with the cockerel entangled.

Chickens are weird about colours. If you change the drinker for one with a different coloured base they will regard it with great suspicion and may not use it!

 

[Marigold]

10 interesting facts about chicken vision;
https://www.val-co.com/10-interesting-facts-chicken-vision

I do think that ‘flowery and colourful’ for a poultry saddle might well be off putting to a cockerel. If it was also a bit too large, it might provoke anxious enquiries about ‘does my bum look big in this?’ from the unfortunate hen who had to wear it!

 

[Margaid]

I think from the point of view of the poultry saddle the fact that chickens are tetrochromatic is probably the mot relevant. If the material is "flowery and colourful" to a human it will look even more so to the other birds, so she will look like she has some huge strange mass on her back. If there is red or pink in it they will almost certainly attack.

The other facts were fascinating too Marigold. Thanks for finding the article.

 

[Icemaiden]

I think this might answer your other question. Stress will stop a hen from laying eggs (usually, but not always, temporarily).
The stress of this episode might explain the drop in egg production. I'd still give them all the Flubenvet though.

(No idea why my phone is randomly underlining words. Sorry.)

 

[mattigil]

I think this might answer your other question. Stress will stop a hen from laying eggs (usually, but not always, temporarily).
The stress of this episode might explain the drop in egg production. I'd still give them all the Flubenvet though.

(No idea why my phone is randomly underlining words. Sorry.)

I see the link you've made there icemaiden but unfortunately (I say unfortunately as it would have been so much easier if this was the case) the egg laying stopped quite some time before this event [emoji85]

 

[mattigil]

I used to use them on my big orp girls, as the rooster is so big. I never had any problems (apart from getting them on!). Mine were plain heavy cream canvas and fitted pretty snugly. Sometimes there was only one hen wearing a saddle.

Thanks for the info MrsBiscuit! It seems like the fit is quite important as well as the plain design of the saddle! Thanks for sharing your experience

 

[mattigil]

I fitted a plan cream one to one of my Welsummers - I had seven other hens and there was no problem. I think it is important that they fit well so can't be dislodged or slide off with the cockerel entangled.

Chickens are weird about colours. If you change the drinker for one with a different coloured base they will regard it with great suspicion and may not use it!

One of the hens I'm needing it for is a welsummer too, guess their breed is always a rooster favourite [emoji23]
Thanks for sharing though, I will have a look around and I might even make some saddles myself for the time being.
I definitely get what you mean about the whole changing the colour of the drinker etc, I've not really paid much attention to those smaller details but it's definitely the case!

 

[mattigil]

10 interesting facts about chicken vision;
https://www.val-co.com/10-interesting-facts-chicken-vision

I do think that ‘flowery and colourful’ for a poultry saddle might well be off putting to a cockerel. If it was also a bit too large, it might provoke anxious enquiries about ‘does my bum look big in this?’ from the unfortunate hen who had to wear it!

As always, great post! Thank you Marigold. Really good article.

It just amazes me how many people are selling saddles with flowery and colourful designs, but not many of their customers have picked up on the reaction like my chickens have.

 

[jaxhen]

Hi Mattigil

I have bought several saddles from Denise @ chickenbreeder.co.uk. She makes saddles in brown canvas and some with fleece linings. They are very well made, very hard-wearing and not expensive for the work involved in making them. I thoroughly recommend them and I receive no financial reward for this recommentation!!! Before I discovered Denise's saddles I tried making my own so I would say don't bother!

https://chickenbreeder.co.uk/product/basic-poultry-saddle/

The saddles come in different sizes and Denise kindly made one for a pecked girl that was longer in length to cover a bald patch near the tail.

Although not recommended, I have successfully washed saddles on a low temperature and found them only to shrink a little.

 

[rick]

I'm not sure about the 'mono-vision' thing - though the turning in the egg thing is fascinating. I mean, why would the amount of light affect the focus. As far as I understand it their flattened eye is incapable of long range focus on both sides but with 4 colours and super HD its not a handicap. Chicken eyesight is so interesting - the way they can spot a half sweetcorn held up inside the house and start running around in anticipation like they do and then when I'm actually there in the run with it and trying to hang it up those keen peepers are all over it!
I think it is true that they use the information from each eye in different ways, until its square on and close - then it frightening!