The girls in the chicken coop are in various stages of the molting process.
roosting in the rafters
It’s perfectly normal, but they do look horrible while they are changing out the old feathers for new ones.
As our weather gets cooler, they’re going to need to hurry up and finish getting their new feathers in.
As the feathers start growing in, they are covered in a plastic-like sheath that the chicken will pull off to reveal the new feather. I personally think it looks kind of painful.
Of course, while they are putting their energy into molting, they are not laying eggs. I’m only getting a couple of eggs each day now. I’m hoping they will pick up production a bit, but the days are getting shorter, and that also cuts down on their production.
Then there’s Dora the Explorer Rooster, who has a big bare patch, not from molting, but from letting the girls pull his feathers out. It’s just in that one spot, and he lets them all do it.
Dora the Explorer Rooster and his hen
Weird guy.
Linking to SOOC Sunday, Macro Monday, and Bird d’Pot.
Teresa
Oct 13, 2012 @ 18:03:11
Interesting to read. A great post!
Oct 13, 2012 @ 18:05:15
Thanks. It really is pretty wild to see them looking that pathetic and think it’s supposed to happen.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 18:12:50
they better get their winter woolies on, soon!
Oct 13, 2012 @ 20:42:30
They’re starting to come out now.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 19:22:10
I think the same thing is happening here. I just wish they would all molt at the same time! I’m curious…do you cut way back on their feed when they’re molting? I’ve heard that some people cut way back to cause a molt….any words of wisdom?
Oct 13, 2012 @ 20:43:11
I’ve never done anything like that. I just let them do it when it happens, but I am far from a chicken expert.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 20:29:19
interesting and fascinating!!
Oct 13, 2012 @ 20:43:35
It’s a whole different world out here on the farm! Thanks for stopping by.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 20:34:13
On a unrelated topic, how is Marley doing? Must be a little sore? And, our chickens are molting aswell. Bleck. They look weird. Eh, such is life.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 20:43:59
He’s doing quite well. I’m sure he’s sore, but he’s up and eating and acting like himself.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 07:29:30
We used to have a chicken naned “skinny long neck” She never had any feathers on her neck. She molted her body. No that we know a little bit on chicken breeds, she was probably a turkin. We never ordered any though!
Oct 14, 2012 @ 08:41:53
Those turkens are ugly. (Sorry, but they are.)
Oct 14, 2012 @ 15:26:32
Sorry it wont let me awnser you anywhere else. Those turkins our ugly. You dont have to be sorry. (You speak the truth)
Oct 13, 2012 @ 21:37:08
Hmmm… Our daughter and sil live in the country and keep a few hens for eggs and they let one broody one hatch some eggs this year; I was fascinated. (not a farm girl myself). I enjoyed this look at the life of chickens. Thanks for sharing.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 21:56:34
It is amazing to watch the lives of the animals. I learn so much here on the farm all the time.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 22:11:40
Interesting learning about the chicken feathers. I knew that they molted but didn’t know about their having to pull anything off of the new feathers. That poor rooster. Seems like he would not allow the girls to pull his feathers out. I guess he really wants to keep the girls happy!
Oct 13, 2012 @ 22:15:11
In the spring, it takes the peacock forever to pull that sheath off his new tail feathers. If they are depressed or sick, they won’t clean them off.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 22:44:50
They’ll soon be fully feathered again.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 22:52:51
They will, but they look awfully sad right now.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 23:37:09
This is very familiar…our hens and rooster are also molting…bedraggled looking creatures:)
Oct 14, 2012 @ 08:40:01
They do look pathetic without those feathers. My Naughty Rooster Boy looks pretty good other than not having a tail right now.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 06:38:17
it can´t be easy during this time. Luckily these birds don´t fly that much.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 08:41:03
The first one is clear up in the rafters, but they can get there through short hops. Even Canada geese molt, and they can’t fly for a couple of weeks while they are growing new wing feathers.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 07:49:50
They look a little the worse for wear!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 08:42:18
Luckily, they’re starting to grow new feathers, and they should be good as new before long.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 08:47:22
I know that birds molt, but I thought it was after winter! Wonderful photos, and I hope they get their new feathers, soon.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 08:54:57
Different birds molt at different times. The geese molt much earlier than the chickens. Once they start growing in, it doesn’t seem to take too long.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 09:25:35
Our rooster has no tail feathers at all. All the hens pull them out. I have no idea why.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 09:33:29
This batch of hens I have eat every feather they find. My poor peacock would be dancing for the girls, and the chickens would come up behind him and try to pull out his fuzzy butt feathers. I don’t know why they eat them.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 09:27:11
I feel so bad for my chickens when they molt! I think it is somewhat painful for them when new feathers come in. I’ve heard people say try not to hold them or pet them too much when their feathers are coming in because it can be uncomfortable for them. They do look so great once their bright, shiny new feathers are in!
Oct 14, 2012 @ 09:34:28
I can’t imagine those thick sheaths coming through the skin. It really must be somewhat uncomfortable at the least. Poor birds. I’ll be glad when they look nice and pretty again.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 12:31:58
They do look pretty pathetic now…but the new feathers are going to look so pretty!
Oct 14, 2012 @ 13:32:05
I can hardly wait!
Oct 14, 2012 @ 12:52:32
oh that does look painful!
Oct 14, 2012 @ 13:32:28
Luckily, they will soon be past molting.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 13:54:41
Fascinating images. Kinda mangy, but all part of nature.
Thanks for linking up at the Bird D’Pot this weekend.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 14:07:12
They do look pathetic while molting.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 14:03:14
We lost all our hens to mink in September – a terrible thing that happened once before several years ago. There’s no keeping the mink out if it is determined to get in – but what a heartbreak.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 14:07:56
I know how that goes. These hens are all new after raccoons decimated my flock last summer. Will you be getting more hens? There’s nothing like having farm fresh eggs.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 01:22:56
I t s nice to see and read about your lovely animals.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:50:33
Thanks. I enjoy talking about them!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 03:11:14
Hi there – interesting post – I sometimes get to handle birds we have caught when they still have their feathers in “pin” as we call them – they do look like they are wrapped in plastic.
Stewart M – Australia
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:49:35
I remember the first time I saw birds getting their feathers in, and I was just fascinated. I had no clue the process was so elaborate.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 05:20:41
Great picture, you have some very pretty looking hens, even when they’re moulting.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:49:50
Thanks. We do have quite a variety!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 07:30:31
Bless them, they do look a bit bedraggled.
Mollyxxx
Oct 15, 2012 @ 08:04:55
It won’t be long before they look all nice a fully feathered!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 13:49:52
They do look rather bedraggled while molting, mine are almost done now and production has picked back up.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 13:58:35
I’m afraid mine have started so late they won’t pick back up with the shorter days.
Hopefully they will look pretty again very soon.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 16:14:59
I know that’s what birds do (molt) but never have seen it up close and personal as you have shown. It looks like an awful, raw, and painful skin disease to this city girl! I hope they get their new feathers soon and can get back to the business of producing eggs. I do like their varied colors.
Thank you for visiting my SOOC post and leaving your comment.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 16:19:06
It does look horrible. Hopefully, they’ll be past it soon.
Oct 16, 2012 @ 09:09:27
Cool shots of the chickens Teresa! We had chickens for the longest time. Nothing like fresh eggs in the morning huh?
Oct 16, 2012 @ 09:23:26
I don’t think I could go back to store bought eggs. The farm fresh ones are so much better!