My chickens were loosing feathers all summer long. It was like they started and decided that the built-in a.c. was worth it. I tried everything to get the feathers back. I gave them more protein. I checked them for mites and lice. I dusted them with DE just in case I just didn’t see the mites and lice. Nothing seemed to work. Worst of all, anyone who visited suddenly thought I was not taking care of my chickens. It doesn’t matter that they never had chickens, they were sudden experts. I hate that look of “You must be killing them”. I’m not a bad chicken owner, it is just what they were doing. But as predicted, it took a couple of nights of cold and the feathers started growing back. I went from seeing no feathers to each looking like they had ants crawling all over them (the feathers were black dots and continued to look just plain weird until they were about 1/2″ long where they started to vaguely look like the feathers they were.) I am happy to see that they are all getting tail feathers, and not knobs anymore (Although they have a long ways to go before they truly look like tails again). The above picture is of the tailless flock.
The down side of this is that I have not had eggs for over 2 weeks. Not a single one. I don’t miss them when I have a lot, but when I don’t, I all of a sudden need them. Funny how that works.
So for all the looks from visitors, patience is key – not blaming.
On a slightly different note, I decided it was time I learned how to properly kill a chicken in case I ever had to due to injury. I chose to volunteer at a farm that I order chickens from (to eat). I was nervous yet excited about helping out on Misty Brook Farm. I was afraid I would not be able to handle it. I didn’t know what to expect. I told my husband it was either going to make me appreciate what we eat, or I would never eat chicken again. But either way, I would learn how to do this in order to be responsible for my animals. While it was not the best day in the world, I am happy that I have learned it and in the process, participated in preparing the chicken I eat instead of just picking it up at a grocery store/farm stand. I appreciate and understand what has to happen for the meat to land on my plate. I think that is why my husband and I have reduced the amount tremendously. I said a little wish for each that crossed my path that day.
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