What could've happened to Fatty?

[Insnesnakos]

I look out the window and see potato fatty's feathers on the ground! What happened?

 

[AntiqueB]

She tangled with something. It looked like that when a hawk tried to take one of mine a few years ago.

 

[southwestclucker]

lol "potato fatty" has me just giggling....love that name - hope she's ok. She looks a lot like my Tater Tot

 

[Insnesnakos]

She tangled with something. It looked like that when a hawk tried to take one of mine a few years ago.

I was so scared one of the birds had been taken by a hawk! But they are all still in the yard

 

[aart]

How old is this bird, in months?

 

[Insnesnakos]

How old is this bird, in months?

She is four years old (48 months)
Just curious, why did you ask?

 

[LaFleche]

I look out the window and see potato fatty's feathers on the ground! What happened?
View attachment 3602304

She might be molting.

 

[aart]

She might be molting.

Because.....

She is four years old (48 months)
Just curious, why did you ask?

Yes, she is probably started to molt.
Seems early, maybe, but the older they get the earlier they might start.
The days are definitely getting exponentially shorter, and the angle of the sun getting lower.

 

[Insnesnakos]

Because.....

Yes, she is probably started to molt.
Seems early, maybe, but the older they get the earlier they might start.
The days are definitely getting exponentially shorter, and the angle of the sun getting lower.

I thought they started molting in September... maybe a bit earlier this year, thanks for the explanation

 

[coach723]

I have a couple of older hens molting now also. Often the pile of feathers is the first sign.