Molting

For the past few weeks, the Chickens have been Molting. While Molting could be described as continuous over the Summer Season for the Flock, it has been more intense this last month.

Can you even imagine what it would be like for a Chicken to replace most of their Head and Body Feathers? (Tail and Wing Feathers proceed at different rates. All will be replaced by Fall.) One would probably get a little slow and non-essential activities would be decreased. Egg Production would be in the latter.

Our Resident Ornithologist says that Molting is triggered by a decrease in Sunlight. As the pattern of Sunlight and Dark changes when we move into Fall, somehow Chickens know that it is time to put energy into making new Feathers. That puts them in a situation where they have a brand new Coat just in time for Winter. Humans usually buy one from a Store.