Butterscotch is moulting

I never thought that I would be so pleased to say that one of the girls is moulting. I thought that Butterscotch may have had her crest feathers pulled out but I now think she is just moulting. I am just beginning to see some tiny pins on her head.

She has a v shaped gap in her breast feathers which caused me to worry that some feathers may have been plucked. While I was trying to gather my photographic evidence, Butterscotch walked towards me and a couple of feathers fluttered to the ground from the v shaped gap on her breast.

I haven’t seen any feather plucking recently but the fact that she had had her comb pecked in the chicken shed and then started losing head feathers lead me to worry that she was being plucked. It now seems that the two things were just a coincidence. Sorry, Honey, for suspecting you of this. I think that because of my past history in the flock I am a bit paranoid of this happening.

I have tried to get some photos but Butterscotch constantly bobs her head and it is very difficult to get clear shots.

This was Butterscotch a few days ago

I thought I could see little white dots which may be pins coming through. They don’t show up as much as the black dots on the girls with dark feathers. Blond feathers coming through are more difficult to see.

Butterscotch has pins just showing

This was tonight and I can now see more obvious white dots and in fact my husband commented that he thought he could see pins. It’s really tricky to see in a photograph but hopefully over the next few days it will be noticeable.

Butterscotch has a drink

Because it is so difficult to show what I want to I thought I would include this shot as I just love the way Butterscotch makes ripples as she drinks.

Butterscotch still has a few head feathers on this side

She has pins on the right side of her head but still has some feathers on the left side of her head. The white patch on her breast is where I saw some feathers drop from her and I can see some pins here too but the photos I took showing this came out blurred.

I am just so relieved that she is moulting and we haven’t got a return of the dreaded feather plucking. It really has become my worst fear. Butterscotch laid an egg yesterday but not today so maybe she needs to lay less and get on with her moult.

Nature will take it’s course and I will be watching her progress and taking photos along the way.