The Denim Jacket Solution

I've had some trouble this year with feather picking in the 4 - 6 week old group.  The target group was the Black and Blue Cochins.  I guess bringing in a new bloodline means some unexpected surprises, and one new thing I'm dealing with this year is slow feathering on some of their backs.  
The main pickers were the Buff Orpingtons that hatched at the same time.  They seem to be the most curious and if there is something that catches their eye they peck at it.   New pin feathers must be tasty, because once they get started it's hard to stop them.    
So after playing around with "Stop Pick" that would only work for about 2 hours, I decided it was time to try something new.  So I quickly sewed up a bunch of chicken saddles.  These are based on Miry Creek's award winning chicken saddle design, but smaller. And definitely not as nicely finished as Miry Creek saddles!

But they have worked like a charm! It took a bit of time for them to get used to wearing them, but after a day they don't seem to notice anymore. New feathers are growing in so fast it amazes me, and soon I'll be able to remove them.
Just thought I'd mention this as a possible solution if anyone else is having these same issues!

I love this idea, in my little flock its the barred rocks that are the most curious and my buffs are really timid so they are the ones wearing stop pick. I will keep this in mind for the future if it becomes necessary.
Thanks Kathy S!

Now don't they look jaunty!

Love the blue saddles. I always thought that adolescent cochins always looked like little kids running around with baggy blue jeans on anyways, with those beautiful and fluffy legs, now they look even more so. Good idea. Chicks are definitely the most curious things, love to hang out with them. I thinkyou are very progressive to have noticed this and got on to fixing their wagon, good on you! Wouldn't take too long to pump out a few of the saddles if you were in a hurry and not worrying about finishing them off with show stopper sewing, smiling. Consider them to be disposable and you could make a whole whack. Awesome! Nice to see this KathyS. Have a beautiful day, CynthiaM.

Great solution..... VERY effective!  Thankfully we have never faced this challenge. Our girls all wear BRIGHT fuchsia pink or lime green saddles.  I have no idea why the colours but.... as long as I don't have to sew them.

Jaunty...love that word and very fitting, Sue.   

Cynthia, you are so right! After figuring out the first one they were very quick to cut and sew up. Once I got going I was able to whip up 4 in 15 minutes. I only needed to use them for 10 days or so, so they are still in good shape - just needed a little wash. I'll keep them on hand to use again, but they could also be considered disposable.