In the turkey world you know it is nearing St Valentine's Day when the stags begin to show more of an interest in the hens. It is then that any hens running with stags should have a saddle put on.

Turkey breeding saddles help to prevent the stag damaging the hen whilst he is 'treading' her. So important are they to welfare that the government department for overseeing animal welfare, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), in the Turkey Welfare Code, says: “before turkey hens are naturally mated they should be fitted with strong saddles to prevent injury to the back and sides by the males.”

A saddle is about a breakfast plate sized piece of leather or canvas, with a semi-circle of thicker leather or canvas strips on the upper part.

The stag balances on the saddle and the thicker strips are designed to catch his claws when he treads so that they do not scrape down the sides of the hen. The saddles sit on the backs of the hens and their wings pass through straps that hold the saddle in position. Both leather and canvas saddles are effective but unless the canvass is quite strong and thick the stag can sometimes 'ruck' it up or tear it, which of course defeats the object if he is then treading feathers and bare skin.

To put a saddle on a hen turkey pull one of the straps right through the connecting piece of material at the front of the saddle until it is in a large loop, then gather up one of the hen's wing feathers and thread them through the loop.

Once you have made sure that all the feathers are through, turn the turkey round and hold her against you so that her other wing is ready to be threaded through.

Pull the strap back through to the other side, again making a loop as large as possible and thread the second wing through. Make sure all the feathers are cleanly through, then even up the straps so that the saddle sits comfortably on her back.

She may well move around rather awkwardly for a few minutes trying to unsettle this strange object but will soon get used to it and eventually take no notice.

A saddle will not restrict the turkey at all. She will still be able to fly, jump, have dust baths and carry out other day to day turkey duties.

She will preen around the saddle but it is a good idea to check from time to time that the saddle is not rubbing and making any part of her sore and that feathers are remaining in good condition under the saddle.

It is also essential to check regularly that her feathers are not covering up any mating damage. Even with a saddle a stag can still damage the hen if she is knocked sideways and he treads her side rather than her back. If injured she may well look rather sorry for herself and hold her wings in a slightly droopy fashion. Isolate her immediately, take off the saddle and investigate the extent of any wounds.

If it is just scratches she has then put some antiseptic powder or spray on them and let her recover on her own for a few days. Sometimes the damage can be more serious and may warrant a visit to the vet for stitches and an antibiotic.

With isolation, treatment and some tender loving care, it is amazing how well hens can recover but be sure to have them really fit and fully saddled again before putting them back with a stag. If seriously damaged a hen may need the remainder of the breeding season to recover because any new growth of skin will be tender and you don't want to run the risk of damage again in the same place, which will then take longer to heal.

When mating occurs it is usually the hen that calls the tune. She squats before the stag and if he is taking no notice she will get up, walk around him and squat again. Sometimes hens can be rejected for a while and they then become quite frustrated. It is not unusual for a hen turkey to fall for a stag in the neighbouring pen, whereby she promptly squats as close to the netting as possible, tempting the stag next door and possibly upsetting his hens as well.

Squatting is a natural action for hens at the start of the mating season. Their hormones take over and regardless of whether they are with stags or not, they will squat.

Hens will also squat for the person who looks after them but with a few strokes, some kind words and some feed, they soon get over this urge.

Once squatting and mating occur, eggs will follow four weeks later. A successful mating will result in the hen turkey being fertile for several weeks which is why it is so important that different varieties of turkey are kept separately from one another. It only takes one illicit mating for 'gene drift' to affect what is produced, resulting in a cross-breed.

For turkey saddle makers contact: Turkey Club UK, Cults Farmhouse, Whithorn, Newton Stewart, DG8 8HA. 01988 600763. www.turkeyclub.org.uk.