I must admit that I am enjoying my girls, after their shorter than expected, stay away from home but I am keeping a close eye on them. I haven’t actually seen Topaz pull any feathers since she has been back here but Emerald’s white patch on her neck seems more obvious.
I have seen Honey pull a feather from Butterscotch but I think her loose moulting feathers are quite tempting. For now I am going to watch them and take action if it escalates but leave them be if it seems to be slowing up.
Maybe even a short break has helped. Topaz and Honey were first to bed last night after the bedtime corn as if they were rushing to get in before they got taken away again.
Emerald has a new trick. She now jumps on the inner (child) gate every time I open the outer gate.
Emeralds new trick
Even with her head down you can see a white spot now, which is why I think it may be a little worse than before, but it’s hard to be sure.
Topaz’s comb is healing nicely
There is just a little dark spot by her left eye where her comb was bleeding but it has healed really well and she never looked bothered by it at all.
Honey’s neck looks just the same, I don’t think it has got any worse
Emerald preening
I was trying to get a photo of Emerald’s neck but ended up with this shot instead.
Butterscotch’s neck
Butterscotch’s neck looks worse but that may be partly down to her moulting again. She has some pins on her neck and head but it’s just a case of whether she can keep them long enough for them to open.
I was struggling to get Emerald to look up so that I could get a shot of her neck. My husband came into the run to help me. Speckles now jumps on me every time I go through the gate and very often Peaches or Barley will join her. Toffee has just taking to jumping at me too but often drops down not making it to my shoulder. Yesterday I held out my arm for her and she perched on it briefly. I am amazed as Toffee has always been very shy.
Speckles on my shoulder
Speckles and peaches on my shoulders
How cute are these girls!
Emerald’s neck
It is quite difficult to get a photo of Emerald’s neck but I hope this will serve to tell if it gets any worse. If things just stayed as they are now I would be happy. I just don’t want this to get any worse or for any of the other girls to copy.
It was another five egg day today. Speckles, Peaches, Barley, Honey and Emerald all laid today. Toffee laid yesterday and only Topaz and Butterscotch are not laying at the moment. I gave six eggs to our next door neighbours yesterday for the first time this year.
It is lovely having plenty of eggs once more. Thank you girls! I am hoping that things may run smoothly for a while and settle down once more but you never know what is round the corner.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Great photos as usual.
What is curious is that the feathers have all come from the same spot on their necks. Maybe other feathers have been pulled but not noticed . The picture of Emeralds neck is a good example. The patch is quite small but very precise .
It is odd but it is Topaz targeting the necks and Honey pulling from bottoms. Honey seems to mostly go for Butterscotch and it’s seems to just be Honey and Emeralds neck. I haven’t caught Topaz doing it since she has been back though, so I am hoping she may have stopped. I thought if I have a photo to refer to I will be able to tell if it gets any worse. It is Butterscotch’s neck and head too but I think it’s because her pins are so tempting.
I suppose it’s all relative – think back to the dreadful winter they had on the Atlantic coast of America and how badly feather-pecked Terry’s flock was. On a totally different note, the difference in Speckles’ comb and wattles, now she’s in lay, is amazing.
I do keep thinking of Terry’s flock and wondering if this will just pass. I haven’t seen Topaz peck necks recently but yesterday I saw Honey pull a bunch of feathers from Peaches or Barley and eat them. Toffee ate one too and I get worried about this catching on. Also do I wait until the girls have bare bottoms before taking action. I am trying to decide if I should separate Honey or wait for a bit.
Speckles comb and wattles have grown so much since she has started to lay as well as being a lovely red. She is such a lovely girl.