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.

What's All This White Stuff And Can I EAT It?

We've had a very mild winter this year--at least when it comes to actual white stuff falling from the sky.  So this was the first day that last year's chicks have been able to experience snow!

Even if it *was* just a dusting.  Groot thought it wise to observe for a bit first...

It took a minute or so of me calling 'Chick-chick-chick' to get even a *couple* of them to venture out.  Finally Strychnine was bolder and led Pele (who thought there might be food in it for her), Kotori and Bowie out.

The girls were not entirely convinced and there was much staring.

Strychnine and Olivia in full 'I dunno, man...' mode.

Eventually the snow was tasted a bit but NOT walked upon, thank you, and they grumped their way back into the coop until it melted.

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...

Odds & Ends...

The kid worked her magic on a claw machine the other day at the grocery store and ended up with this guy...

Whom I promptly dubbed, 'Gotta Pee Duck'.  Although going by his shocked, glum expression of regret, it may already be too late.


Driving down highway 395 recently, I decided that this perfectly displayed how I felt:

Me on the left driving through the Owens Valley...me on the right when I discover it's on fire AGAIN.

This was one of those 'management fires', but they still make me uneasy--it's so easy for these to get away and out of hand.

Lastly, just wanted to let everyone know that Pele is holding with her own personal tradition of molting during summer while it's hot...and then taking her sweet time growing *new* feathers, waiting until the cold weather sets in.  And meanwhile looking like a Chernobyl victim.

Lordy.  Forty miles of bad road, right there.  Silly chicken.