I think they MIGHT be molting?

[Rare Feathers Farm]

These pictures were taken just before the third time this week I raked their runs!

 

[Flip-N-Flogging]

Is anyone missing? I've seen attacks that favor that scene!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

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Nope. That was my first thought when I came outside to this last week....but everyone's there...and only about 1/2 of the bird they once were!

Last week, it was in the low 70s...Saturday we were close to 100 degrees and today--it's been in the 50s and pouring rain. It's like someone flipped a switch...no eggs (over 60 hens), feathers everywhere....must be fall.

 

[maybejoey]

x2 I have seen attacks that look like a pillow full of feathers just blew up.

Are you positive.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I know--and that's just from three pens...the Golden Laced Cochins, Orloffs and Sussex! The Creves, Sumatras & Houdans don't look much better...the ducks & geese are almost done with their molts...which reminds me--molting Sebbies are really messy!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

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Oh yeah...I'm positive. I do a head count twice a day, inspect the runs while I'm at it. Everyone is accounted for...just bald.

 

[maybejoey]

 

[gryeyes]

Gosh, I was under the impression a few, local, high-schoolers with enough machismo to have a pillow fight had just staged a few clandestine, no, even stealth mode bouts on my property lately.

But then I saw the earliest victim of a full-blown molt: half-naked, clearly miserable Rebecca, a 2 year old EE.

Lordy, it's going to get worse, isn't it??

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

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[Rare Feathers Farm]

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