Chicken Bomb

 Oh...terrific. Pele, one of two hens in the house right now due to all the wildfire smoke, has decided that now, yes--NOW is the perfect time to molt. Pele has a congenital respiratory issue that causes her to wheeze very badly when it gets smoky like this, so for the time being she's in the house, occupying one of our bathrooms. The other hen is 9 year old, mostly blind Wiggles--the rooboys have decided that she is a GILF and have been after her too much, so she's keeping Pele company. This super-heavy smoke is expected to last at least another week, lucky us.

So here's what we woke up to this morning, which prompted a loud, involuntary 'Oh, God!' from me...feathers creeping out into the hallway.

Pele has chosen her spot (as humans we have -zero- say in this, the chicken will simply return to the chosen spot again and again like some sort of weirdo farmer's perpetual motion thing the minute your back is turned), up on the counter so she can admire herself in the mirror--chickens love gazing at themselves. So more feathers adorn the countertop.

The rest of the bathroom is beginning to swim in feathers, all we can do is clean them up and wait for the inevitable Pele-bomb to come...because Pele is one of those chickens who only indulges in a HARD molt--we're talking uber-creepy, naked chicken here.

Going by what she's done in the past, this is what we'll have to look forward to in a week or so:

YEAH--can't wait.

No. 22 In The Series, 'Things You Do NOT Want To Touch'

Apparantly, 'Fall' to our chickens sounds a klaxon that screams, MOLT NOW! MOLT NOW! MOLT NOW!

The chicken yard is awash in feathers, and while most of the birds are --eh, kinda molting--while others refuse to...

Some take things way too far.

Tonight I went out to pass out some goodies and nearly screamed at Cluckadorkle--normally a fairly fluffy girl.

Yeah, right now she's a beige pincushion.

Then there's Pele, who molts heavily every single year.

She's working on her usual: molting out white feathers and growing in lavender ones.

When she realized I was taking pictures she ran and hid behind Milton.

Then there's nearly 10 year old Beauty, whom I swear has NEVER molted. Her feathers wouldn't dare fall out.

Although she looks pretty irritated to have everyone's molted feathers stuck to her feet like the rest of the chickens do...

Molt Update!

Just to prove that the chickens are safe and warm, and really DID grow new feathers, here they are.

Rambo

Pie, still working on her tail but lookin' cute and sporting her fluffy butt supreme...

Alice

Pumpkin in her favorite, 'It's snowing and I ain't goin' out there' perch

Of course, some of the chickens thought it best to just get extra fluffy and skip the whole 'molt' thing. Cam and Burger demonstrate.

And Yoya the Fluff Queen also lookin' cute.

But...but what about Pele, I hear you ask...?

I was afraid you'd ask.
*Sigh...*
OK, here she is.

She's trying, I swear she is.  Pele just seems really content to remain in The Polar Bear Club For Chickens, but she'll get there...

The Scariest Time Of Year...

And it's *not* Halloween.

Around here, it's molting season.  Pumpkin leads in the headlong stampede to lose all your feathers...

Yes, that's *one* lone tail feather left hanging dismally off her butt.

Not to be outdone, Rambo horns into Pumpkin's photo session and shows off HER fright outfit.

I admire her thoroughness in literally molting head to freakin' toe.

Then she ran off like some guy being chased by a 60 Minutes news crew.

Alice shows off her naked pink chicken skin...

As does Pie.

...so now you know what a chicken tail looks like without the tail.  Or any other surrounding feathers. Or dignity.

Give her a week and she'll be a chicken again, I swear she will.

Pele wins for most shocking, though.  From this angle, not so bad, right?

HERE

Those naked legs...

Jesus, I'd run and hide, too.

Rambo consoled herself later on by partaking of the Chickam pumpkin.

...but emerged long enough to shoot me a glare that clearly said, 'Enough with the camera, already.'

I wisely took the hint and split.

Fun With Poultry

Pele, one of the hens hatched last year, has decided she's tired of being a white hen and is changing to...well, taupe, of all things.

The molt has begun.  The old white feathers on their way out...

A few days later, as new feathers start coming in, the color change is evident.

...and more...

At this stage it's finally safe to *gently* pick her up to take pictures.

I think she chose her new color well, she's very striking!

The other chickens mill around at picture time.  Some cooperate and pose nicely, others not so much.  I never plan on taking pictures of certain birds, it just works out however it works out.

Pie in the sky!

Hurr...

Jellybean looking beautiful and showing off her Kraienkoppe cape.

Daphne being wise and starting to grow winter feathers.

'Pompdour?  Hey, Pomps...?'

Can't talk.  EATING.

Oh, well.  I know, I'll get some shots of Pumpkin!  Hey, Pumpkin!

No, Pumpkin, hold still!

Oh, forget it.

Frosty at least cooperated.

No, Pumpkin, photobombing doesn't count.

Fries and Bloop looked great.

And Burger was looking VERY dignified and grand.

Also clean, for a change.

Hanging out in front of the feed shed so she wouldn't accidentally miss out on any food.

Bloop's sons, Buzzard and Cowbell are growing up nicely.  Buzzard has some nice spangles coming in on his pantaloons.

And Cam is looking handsome!

Finally, in the end Pumpkin took pity on me and posed very prettily.

Silly chicken.