Birds of a Feather Molt Together

So it's been awhile since my last post about Esther.

The good news is that she seems perfectly fine.

However, she hasn't laid a single egg since that, um... unpleasant examination. She's also not so eager to jump into my lap as she used to be.

Esther, in motion, seems happy and healthy as a lark...

though she does keep a safe distance from me these days,

especially when I'm donning rubber gloves.

I would feel the same way, so I won't hold it against her.

The fact that she had suddenly and completely stopped laying did leave me a little worried, though. I mean, not worried enough to do a repeat procedure... but I was definitely concerned.

Until this happened.

My children woke up one morning to find feathers scattered all over the yard. Now, don't think the worst here. None of our girls were harmed. They were... molting!

After pulling on their boots, my kids skipped through the garden, squealing with delight, collecting masses of downy feathers in bowls and baskets and bags. They were even more excited about collecting feathers than eggs. The chickens watched from a safe distance with a healthy mix of curiosity and contempt in their eyes.

"What IS going on here?" wondered Lillian.

The truth is, I was as perplexed as she was, until, serendipitiously, my newest issue of Urban Farm Magazine showed up on my dining room table that very same day. And one of its features was entitled "Molting Matters."

In basic terms, the article explained how chickens molt annually, shedding their old layer of feathers, much like other animals. The process usually begins in early fall, though the author mentions that it can begin in the end of summer, as well. During the molting process, the chickens' bodies require extra proteins to develop new feathers... the same types of proteins they use to develop eggs. So, as chickens molt, they often stop laying.

Apparently, I can expect a lot more feather shed at Pocket Square Farm over the coming months. That's fine by Mason, however, who never misses an artistic opportunity! He used some of his collected feathers, construction paper, scissors, and white glue to make a replica of his favorite feathered friend.

Our girls didn't know what to think as the newest member of their "flock" scampered around the yard!

Good thing curiosity never killed the chicken! We may be down a few eggs in coming months, but on the flip side, I won't have to buy packaged feathers at the craft store EVER AGAIN!