Saturday, September 4, 2010

Feathers, Feathers Everywhere!

I have to say that this is probably our first "official" molt to date. Chickens molt their feathers usually twice a year. Some molt in patches, some just a feather here and there, and then there are some that end up looking like they belong on a serving plate at the dinner table.

Now we've had feathers before...but never like this!! As a friend best described it.."you have enough feathers to make another chicken". So true, but at this point it's enough for a few chickens. None of my chickens are completely bald, but they do look like they have been through the ringer. They look pretty funny. My beautiful Mr Roo has no tail feathers, so it seems that all the girls are turning away in laughter.

So unfortunately molting is a natural part of a chickens life. They all have to go through it to make way for nice new feathers to keep them warm for the winter. The thing that sucks though, during a molt they won't lay an egg for anywhere between 6-12 weeks. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it....

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