Mating Saddles Protect Hens from Rooster Treading

Treading, or the rapid movements of a rooster’s feet while mating, can result in feather loss and deep wounds on a hen’s back and shoulders. To prevent such injuries, and to protect deplumed areas while feathers grow back, hens may be dressed in mating saddles.

A saddle also comes in handy in the event a predator wounds a chicken, to protect the back while feathers regrow and gashes heal. As long as the chicken remains with the rest of the flock, leave the saddle on 24 hours a day until plumage grows back and wounds heal.

If you’re handy you can measure your hens and make saddles to fit. A saddle that’s too tight may chafe, rub off feathers, injure the wings, or even strangle the bird. A too-loose saddle, or one constructed of floppy material, will hang to one side and be useless.

Ready-Made Mating Saddles

Ready-made saddles are available in a variety of styles, some of which work better than others. The best I’ve seen so far is The Chicken Chick Hen Mating Saddle designed by Kathy Shea Mormino.

Kathy explains the inspiration behind her design: “I have always kept between one and six roosters in my flock, so I have always needed saddles to protect my hens’ feathers and skin during mating. I have purchased countless saddle/apron designs, all of which had performance flaws ranging from flimsy material to fatally flawed construction. The inability of existing products to properly protect my hens resulted in the need to design and construct my own. I tweaked my design over a period of years for my own hens. Only recently have I made them available for sale.”

One feature that makes Kathy’s saddle superior to others I have used is that it protects the hen’s shoulders, as well as the back. It’s made of sturdy duck fabric and is reinforced, so it keeps its shape to stay in place. It’s durable enough for use multiple times, and is machine washable and dryable.

Kathy sent me some of her early prototypes to try on my hens, and we kicked around a few design improvements. One of my hens managed to unsnap a shoulder strap and lose her saddle. That can’t happen with Kathy’s current double-snap design.

Although Kathy intends for her saddle straps to be unsnapped when applied, I find that isn’t necessary. I gently fold the hen’s wing and slip the wrist through the strap.

Hens React to Saddles

Sometimes when I apply a mating saddle, the hen will spend a few minutes trying to back away from it. Kathy recommends attaching a mating saddle at night. That way the hen gets accustomed to the feel of it overnight while she sleeps. Hens quickly get used to wearing a mating saddle, and have no trouble dust bathing or preening while wearing one.

A mating saddle is not intended as permanent clothing for hens. It’s just to get them safely through the breeding season. During the fall molt, each chicken will grow a full set of fresh plumage. Then, during winter, when the roosters’ testes temporarily shrivel and they becomes less amorous, mating saddles are not needed. For future use, remove the saddles, wash them, and store them away — ready for next spring’s breeding season.