Chicken Feathers

I have been taking every opportunity to be outside to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather this week.  And given the number of chicken feathers decorating the yard I suspect that I am not the only one at the farm grateful for these warm days.  In general, a pile of chicken feathers can be an ominous sign to a chicken owner, and spotting one always makes me want to do a quick chicken head count.  But this time of year I must get used to seeing feathers all over the place, as the chickens are molting, losing and replacing feathers in preparation for winter weather. Molting is triggered by shortening days.   It usual starts around September, and lasts up to 14-16 weeks.  And it seems to me that the chickens often reach the peak of molting just as the temperature hits frigid.  Nothing makes me feel more sorry for a chicken then seeing it running around outside partially undressed (or occasionally nearly naked) when the temperature is well below freezing.   So, I am sure that the chickens are appreciating a few extra warm days as they replace old feathers with new ones.  And I try to do my part to help the chicken’s get their warm winter coats on as soon as possible.   As much as it might be tempting to crochet them all little chicken sweaters, I am pretty sure they wouldn’t appreciate that effort. 

Thankfully, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens suggests an alternative way to help – feeding the chickens extra protein. Producing new feathers is a protein intense process and it just so happens I have plenty of good protein to offer.   A quick look in my refrigerator will explain why my chickens are getting their extra protein the form of goat milk which I make into curds (and whey), to make it easier for the chickens to eat.   They definitely seem to enjoy it, so I am sure that goat milk not being listed in Storey’s list of protein supplement options was simply an oversite on his part.   Right?

While a chicken’s energy is focused on producing new feathers, most hens stop or significantly reduce laying.   Add that to the drop off in laying that naturally occurs with shortening days and the changing angle of the sun in the fall (and this chicken owner’s stubborn refusal to use artificial light to trick the chickens into laying), and you will understand why egg production here has fallen precipitously.  From my maximum egg day of 24 eggs this summer, we are now averaging 4 eggs per day, and numbers appear to still be falling.   The previous two springs I had added 10-15 chicks to the flock, who started laying in the fall, and continued producing through the winter, allowing me to provide eggs to my customers.  This year, with an already full chicken house, I only have 2 youngsters.  They aren’t laying yet.   If they start, they might just manage to keep my family in eggs for the winter.  If not, I could find myself buying eggs.   Boy, will that feel weird!   

One of the things I love about being a chicken owner is being able to share our fresh eggs, and I have some very loyal customers.   I hate having to tell them I don’t have eggs.  But for some reason, it was not well received when I tried to tell my husband that, despite the fact that we are feeding and housing 25 hens and 2 roosters, and there were eggs in the refrigerator, he could not have eggs for breakfast.   “I need them for my customers” I said.   “That is JUST NOT RIGHT!” he responded.  I thought about arguing, but given the fact that my net profit for the egg part of my business last year, aside from eggs for my family, was negative $12, I don’t have much of a leg to stand on.   And it didn’t help that my mom agreed with him.  Sigh.  And in reality, even if Gary gave up his Saturday morning eggs, I would still not even be close to meeting my regular customer’s needs.   Faced with those facts, I eventually had to break down and admit it was not reasonable to tell him no. Now I let him eat his eggs. Fortunately, my customers are gracious and grateful for whatever eggs I can provide.   Thank you faithful customers! When the chickens are ready to lay more for us all again, I will be eager to once again share our harvest of delicious fresh eggs.