We have a beginning small farm poultry operation. We chose Bragg's Mountain Buff chickens because of the advertised "Golden Hen that Lays Jumbo Brown Eggs." These hens are large and golden, and the roosters are even larger, and our customers buy up all those big, brown eggs. Such beautiful chickens! (www.braggsmountainpoultry.com)

Cut and attach 4-5 pieces of tape together, overlapping about 1/2 inch, with the longest piece in the middle. Place the entire tape grouping over the bare spots, with the longer, middle section under the wings.

We purchased unsexed chicks and, as a result, I ended up with more roosters than we needed. All was fine until they became sexually mature. Until I could get the numbers under control, I ended up with hens with bare backs and, at times, injuries due to treading during mating.

I looked for solutions in one of my valuable resources, Storey's Guide Raising Chickens. It has directions for making a "saddle." I tried the pattern and made a saddle. I could not seem to keep it on the hens. It probably was operator error.

Then, while searching for a different solution, I spied my husband's roll of, what I thought was, duct tape. The tape was actually Nashua Tape R 357, maximum temp, 200 F (www.tycoadhesive.com). My husband's comment when I realized it wasn't just a regular roll of duct tape, was, "You did what with my good tape?" I did try to do the same thing using regular duct tape, but it failed. This Nashua tape is stronger and has more body. You have to cut it, as it will not tear. Since then, I replaced my husband's roll of tape and bought a roll for myself to keep in our chicken coop. You can find this tape in your local home improvement stores.

Joyce uses Nashua Tape R 357, which she says is stronger than standard duct tape. The 'saddle' stays on the hen until she either figures out how to remove it or until it falls off on its own. Because the hen's body is dusty, the tape does not stick to the skin and allows air flow to aid in healing.

I cut four to five pieces of the tape (depending on the size and shape of the bare spot), to about six to eight inches long. I stick one strip of tape to the other, one long side to the next long side, overlapping by approximately 1/2". (One 6" piece, to an 8" piece, to a 6" piece). Then I take the joined pieces and lay it across the hen's bare back and occasional injury, pressing the piece to the feathers around the bare spot. The longer, middle section goes under the wings. Because a hen's body is dusty the tape does not stick to the skin and will allow air under it. The tape will stick to the feathers that are remaining. I leave it on until either the hen figures out how to remove it or it falls off on its own. By then the area is healed and the feathers are starting to come back.

I have used this taping method a number of times and it has worked well for me. It is a simple solution that provides protection for the hens while allowing them to heal.