She Is Looking Better

Slowly but surely EffieGrace is getting her beautiful feathers back.

Sunny's Molt

Sunny got off easy with her molt this time.  I wonder if that means next time it will be hard or is it just how it will be for her.  I noticed her new bum feathers coming in.

The pic looks a little gross but when you really get past that it is amazing.  You can see the shaft that the feather grows out of.  I feel sure that she will be glad when she is covered again.  It has been a cold winter to have your bum all exposed!

Bulking Up For Winter

We try to feed The Girls some veggies everyday.  I'm hoping with all the corn and scratch they will put on an extra layer of fat to keep them warm this winter.

Ella Bella sure doesn't need any beefing up.   She could go to Alaska and be just fine.  Poor old girl.  But when you are almost 10, I guess I can cut her some slack.  But I have news for her, her lazy days are numbered.  I am going to need a walking buddy come Jan 1 !

Most of the girls are getting their new feathers in just in time for winter, thank heavens.

Looks like someone got caught scratching and  pecking in the garden.  They love the raised beds.

Meet the new boss in town.  The pecking order has switched since Susie crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  Boy and is Inez a feisty one.

And then there is poor EffieGrace.  Her molt seems to be in slow motion.  I did check her today and she is finally getting new feathers.  Last night when I went to tell them all good night and lock them in...her sisters were all in the nesting boxes leaving her out on the perch all by herself.  She needs extra body heat to keep her warm.  So tonight I am closing off the nesting boxes so they will be forced to share the perch with her.  Two can play at their game.

I feel so bad for her.  But I have noticed that she is starting to join the group again and come and 'fight' for treats.  I guess it is desperate measures for desperate times.

Thinking about one of those knitted sweaters for her!

Latest Molting Story

She's the worst of the bunch

 Today she showed up with no tail feathers.

RayJeana is slowly losing her feathers.

Ms Sassy Pants, Crispy, shows no signs of molting.

Judy is starting to look better.

RayJeans doesn't seem to mind being a little light in the feathers.

Esthelle lost her tail feathers yesterday.

Dixie just runs away so no one can see her.

 oh no, I see some really light spots.  Guess she is next.

 Pecking some of that new food that will add lots more protein to her diet.  Good girl!

And then there is poor, poor, poor EffieGrae.

 It looks bad but this is actually good.  The bare skin is where she has lost her feathers.  And you see those little straw looking things...those are the new feathers.  It is really a neat thing to see.

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One day soon she will pretty again.  Hope it is before the middle of the month.  According to the Farmer's Almanac we are going to get some snow showers around the middle of the month.

Losing Old Feathers and Growing New Ones

Mark went to pick up food for the girls yesterday.  He talked to the staff and they suggested since the girls were in the middle of a molt they should have this feather fixer.  Great idea.  One problem.  It is pellets and they don't eat pellets.

So being the good Chickie Ma that I am I crushed up the pellets and aded them to the chicken treat that I feed them to get them a little heavier for the winter (so they will stay warmer with an extra layer of fat).

So we will see tomorrow morning what the verdict is.  If they haven't eaten much, I probably going to send Mark back to the feed store to get the regular food and I'll have to figure something else out.  They need more protein now that they are growing new heathers.  Maybe some mealworms.  I'll need to do a little research.

Molting Profiles

They are just plain pitiful!  Egg total today...a whopping 2!

Sunny just keeps her head down and beak in the dirt.  She is starting to lose her hiney feathers.

Knock on wood, Inez is still holding on to all her feathers.

Effie Grace is a sad sight.  Mark even laughed at her.

Ethelle still looks good.

Crispy might be losing wing feathers.

RayJeana is still hanging in there with all of her feathers.

Dory is a sight!  I'd hide under the tress too.  She has lost all of her tail feathers.

Susie lost a tail feather today while I was taking pictures of them.

Ethel is looking a little thinner around the middle.

Judy looks a little rough around the collar.

Dixie gets whiter by the day!

The First Molt

This is what the backyard looks like!  You would think something got in and attacked the girls.  But no they are just molting.  It is an ugly picture!

It is not a good look for any of the girls.  Some have lost all the fluff on their behinds.  Some are losing the feathers around their necks.  And then there is poor Judy (no picture will ever be taken of her), she has missing feathers in splotches all over her body.  Looks like someone that was asleep went after her with hair trimmers.  She hides under the bushes so no one can see...so embarrassing.

EffieGrace looks the most presentable of the bunch.

Guess I am going to have to look up how long this phase will last.  Research is a good thing.  Another thing, while they are molting there is no egg production...or very few eggs.  In the last two days I have gotten 6 eggs.