Over the last week spring has arrived at last after a long cold winter and the garden has suddenly filled with spring colour.
Spring colour
Best of all though is the effect it has had on the chickens. The feather pulling stopped as suddenly as it started. I had read that when the feathers are plucked out they don’t regrow until the next molt which would be autumn but over the last week I was sure that I was seeing the beginning of pin feathers on Pepper’s bottom and Dotty’s neck. Then I started to notice downy feathers appearing on Dotty’s head. Today I realised that she no longer has a bare head, hurrah!
Dotty’s bare head just over a week ago
Dotty’s head is no longer bare
Pepper is still a bit scruffy but her fluffy bottom is slowly coming back
Bluebell still has a bare patch on her neck but it’s not so obvious
I think because the dominiques have very downy feathers they lose and replace some of them all the time so have more of a chance of their feathers regrowing. I am so pleased to see Dotty’s head feathered again.
Dotty’s now fluffy head
Dotty has also now joined Pepper with a dirty comb but they have been doing so much dust bathing over the last few days that I suppose it is inevitable. How lovely it is to see her getting fluffy again, although she still has a bare neck which she is hiding here.
I have also noticed Bluebell has started wagging her tail from side to side and wonder if this some sort of spring ritual to attract a mate. Spring has made both the girls and me feel happier.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
What a difference in your garden in a week. It looks lovely . The girls do look a lot better …Anything to cheer you up ! 🙂
I would leave her dirty comb..How embarresed she would be in front of the other girls.if you got out your tissue.? .I remember when I had a dirty mark on my face and my mum would get her hanky out and spit on it before rubbing it off my face.
I know, I couldn’t believe how much change in the garden and the girls in only a week . I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see Dotty’s head feathered again. Now my future photos of her won’t look like she is uncared for!!
I know, I did consider cleaning it again but decided with the amount of dust bathing they are doing at the moment it would be pointless.
If a feather is plucked completely out, quill and all, then it will grow back.
If the feather is broken off leaving the quill under the skin, then it will not grow back until the hen molts and the body pushes out that broken quill.
So glad they are growing their feathers back. Bare chickens are so very sad looking.
That’s really interesting to know, I am still learning new things even this far in, thank you for that. That makes me more hopeful that they may all grow back. You are so right, bare chickens do look really sad. I couldn’t help myself keep thinking “poor Dotty”, when it probably didn’t bother her at all (without a mirror to see what she looks like)!