MJ's little flock

[Ribh]

She appears to be her usual cheerful self, just feeling the heat around 3-6pm every day. That's when she drinks, sits in the shade, pants, and waits for the day to cool down. That's normal for Mary on a hot day. (Tomorrow will be super hot, so at lunchtime I'll put them in the henhouse with some blue esky ice blocks to sit on and I'll get the misting going.)

But other than being confined to quarters or confining herself to quarters in the heat, she's been enjoying all day every day in the yard. Dust bathing, snoozing, foraging, etc. So she's got plenty to think about and plenty to do - they all have. So if she's plucking her own feathers, it's not from boredom.

I still haven't seen her plucking at her feathers, but I'll keep watching.

If she is plucking she may be doing it on the nest as it's preparing the nest for babies. That could be why you haven't noticed.

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning everyone

 

[MaryJanet]

If she is plucking she may be doing it on the nest as it's preparing the nest for babies. That could be why you haven't noticed.

Well, she hasn't sat in a nest for a few weeks now. When she sits down, it's usually in a shady spot out in the open. Janet is using the nests and when I collect her eggs, I can see there are no feathers in the nest.

I think she's molting, not plucking. I wonder if the heat is causing feather loss.

The reasons I thought she was broody-ish is that she's not laying and she was properly broody a few weeks ago, but only for a couple of days.

 

[Ribh]

Well, she hasn't sat in a nest for a few weeks now. When she sits down, it's usually in a shady spot out in the open. Janet is using the nests and when I collect her eggs, I can see there are no feathers in the nest.

I think she's molting, not plucking. I wonder if the heat is causing feather loss.

The reasons I thought she was broody-ish is that she's not laying and she was properly broody a few weeks ago, but only for a couple of days.

You'll know her best of course. Any chance she's got a hidden nest some place round the yard?

I've decided my hens are complete lunatics. Just when I think I've got them sorted they do a *completely out of left field* on me ~ so what do I know about anything?

 

[MaryJanet]

No chance of a hidden nest.

I think we have to accept that she's not pulling feathers out. She's molting.

 

[BY Bob]

Well, she hasn't sat in a nest for a few weeks now. When she sits down, it's usually in a shady spot out in the open. Janet is using the nests and when I collect her eggs, I can see there are no feathers in the nest.

I think she's molting, not plucking. I wonder if the heat is causing feather loss.

The reasons I thought she was broody-ish is that she's not laying and she was properly broody a few weeks ago, but only for a couple of days.

The heat could certainly stop her from laying and any stress can choose feather loss so why not heat?

 

[MaryJanet]

It seems to have stopped now too. From what I can see, she lost a little butt fluff, several hackles and two long wing feathers.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Are we absolutely sure our broody girls aren’t sneaking onto Beakbook and group chatting?! Maybe they’re sharing techniques and how to bring it on...

Curse Beakbook! We must revoke their internet privileges!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Thank you @Aussie-Chookmum ! Not sure who nominated me, but it would've been one of you peeps. If it was you: thanks x 2!!

Not me I'm afraid MJ. I haven't a clue how any of this works
Maybe I should get pointers from our Beakbook using hens.

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening everyone