Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Scrambles55]

I'm not going to lie. I was rooting for the panthers because I am sure we can beat them. Those darn hawks are problematic if we make it past the cowgirls.

I don't blame you at all Mortie.... I root for the team that I know we can beat too.

 

[ronott1]

I don't blame you at all Mortie.... I root for the team that I know we can beat too.

I did that last year for the Baseball play offs. The Giants just could not beat the Dodgers last year so I rooted for the Cardinals against the Dodgers.

 

[mortie]

I am fairly convinced Hedwig is either quite ill or molting.

I released the birds for free range today since it's finally warm enough for themto want to do anything but stay in the coop. By that I mean it's above zero. I think the windchill is +15 so it's downrght balmy. I almost went out in shorts and flip flops to refill the water.

Anyway, a bunch of them were up on the deck and as I came closer, they didn't run away. I'm assuming they don't think they can run in the snow. I took this chance to grab Hedgie to see what was what. She feels a little thin, but then they always feel thin to me compared to Wilson and Maggie, who are probably at least part production red, which do tend to be larger birds. Her feathers feel and look thing to me and pretty scraggly. As I turned her over for inspection, several feathers came out and fluttered to the ground. She looks to be in rough shape indeed and as I mentioned before, the coop is littered with her feathers and I know they're hers because she is the only white chicken.

Here are some pics.

Here she is next to Wilson, the biggest, fattest chicken we have.



A more close up picture of her.



Here she is next to her sister, Midge. Same breed, they are the same age. you can see how sad Hedwig is looking



Penny is her usual gorgeous self


Mmmmm, scratch!


Maggie is always at my feet.


So. That's that. I do think Hedwig is molting. Should I worry? If there anything to be gained by worrying really? She has made it through some pretty tough nights that were waaaay below zero without being fully feathered. It's not going to be as bitter the upcoming nights. She walks around and seems normal otherwise. The thinness I perceive might be just because her feathers aren't as thick and really no bird could be as fat as Wilson, our big girl. Whatcha think?

 

[lindz8504]

Mortie, it looks like molting to me. Several of mine did that as well.

 

[Scrambles55]

She could be molting Mortie. My girls look real sad when they molt. Feathers everywhere in a heavier molt. They also tend to be shy and sleep in the nest boxes while in a molt. If she is eating, all should be well. Give her some BOSS.

Good luck!!

 

[XxMingirlxX]

I reckon it's molting, when my poor white leghorn molted she lost her whole tail! What a sorry sight!

 

[cheeka]

she does look like she's molting. up her protein. she'll be fine

 

[mortie]

They are getting a good amount of protein Tom so cat food that is mixed in with their feed I think. I will give hedwig extra. I don't worry about them in the bitter cold but minus some of her feathers it is a little different. At least it warmed up a but.

 

[mortie]

I give up on typing on my phone..

 

[Wishing4Wings]

FOUR!!! Nugget, Jemma, Minnie P and a Rump!!!

SEA... HAWKS!!!!!

Well, somebody had a good day! I was rooting for the other guys, of course, since the 49ers had such a miserable time this season, no thanks to those Seahawks.

Midnight flight for hubs, on his way to China again! He will be in the air for 2 more hours before landing in Taipei (14 hrs total) where he waits before continuing to Hong Kong. Last year at this same time during the playoffs he had a super long layover, and I set up the computer to Skype the game to him while he was sitting at the airport in Taiwan. He had quite a few people come over asking how this strange American game was played.