Speaking of Christmas (related music) I wish I had 6 geese-a-laying.... with all the cooking going on lately I could use some EGGS!! (I am silently yelling at my chickens outside). I had to buy a dozen from the store yesterday, the first time since spring. It felt weird. Like buying something that you think you should get free.... like a can of air, or a gallon of water, or a bag of ice. Am I asking too much here? Apparently ALL 3 OF THEM are molting (that was another silent yell). See all the feathers-
Molting is when they shed their feathers to grow new one (like in Make Way for Ducklings) and typically stop laying eggs during the process. More info on molting here if interested. It occurs yearly and can be triggered by the lack of sunlight and/or change of seasons (I think). Since they are not even a year old this was not supposed to happen until next year. Ginger, the Rhode Island Red mix, in the middle (who WAS my favorite)-
was NOT molting until this past week. She had been giving us an egg a day all fall and winter. I thought the two Ameraucanas (Penny and Rooster), who have been molting for a few months now, had persuaded her to join them.... peer pressure.
Since hormones are involved I truly thought they could have induced it (women know what I am talking about).
But after reading I learned that I might have induced it. Over a week ago I insulated the upper portion of their coop by filling in some holes with straw and rolled up feed bags (leaving ventilation only at the top).
Since the two Ameraucanas had been staying mostly in the coop (I assumed from being cold due loosing their feathers) Ginger was staying with them. I then blocked out most of the sunlight into to coop most likely inducing her molt. Oops, sorry ladies.... now I know. I am considering adding some milk whey to their food since I read adding more protein can help in re-growing their feathers.
Lack of food can also induce molting and they have had some food thieves during the night.
We have to put their food in a metal trash can each night otherwise the mice and rats gobble it all up.
On a more lovely note, there is still some fresh herbs growing in our garden. Surviving a couple snows and frosts. Parsley-
Oregano already spreading even after we re-located it late summer.
Gardening is not just a one season thing!
As I am typing its thundering and lightening outside, strange New England weather this winter.....
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