Molting

Our chickens are molting....hard. It's pretty "normal" for them to loose their feathers this time of year. 

The coop floor looks like someone took a knife to a feather bed. Lots of feathers EVERYWHERE.

They always seem to grow them back just in time for winter. 

But this year the cold weather took one of the hens by surprise.

She's just about naked!

 I don't think she's sick or hurting. Chickens isolated themselves from the flock when they are in trouble and she is happy to be with the other girls. 

 There are new feathers growing out. They are just taking their time making an appearance. 

So in the meantime, I've been increasing the protein in their feed. This will help to keep the hens from depleting all their energy stores by both trying to keep warm and growing feathers at the same time.

We might get a few more eggs out of the deal, too.