Shy

It’s been quite a while since I’ve stepped in to do the coop duties for Farmer Nyel.  The girls are well-used to our chicken-sitter neighbors now, but I think they are disappointed that it’s me and not the Tall Guy that is tending their needs right now.  I’ve assured them that it won’t be long before he’s their go-to guy once more, but they are a bit leery.

Our newest young lady is just plain shy.  She has yet to really ‘fit in’ with the other three – stays within sight of them but keeps her distance a bit when they are all free-ranging in the yard. However,  when I approach, she’s into the bushes like a shot.  The rhododendrons provide good cover and she hunkers down well out of my reach and well-camouflaged (or so she thinks.)

Gathered for brooding?

One of the older girls (a Red Star) has her own method of protest going on.  She has taken to laying her eggs way off in a corner of the broody pen – a corner we can’t reach except maybe with great patience and an extended golf club.  Night before last when I went to tuck everybody in, she was sitting on those eggs as content as can be.  I tried to talk to her a little – a bit of sex education.  You know… along the lines of: without a rooster in the flock, your eggs won’t ever hatch…  But she was having none of it.  Hopeful to the max.

The other Red Star has apparently decided that this is a good time to molt.  Never mind that the days are getting colder and wetter – she’s getting rid of feathers right and left.  Actually, according to the chicken experts, she’s right on time molting-wise.  Typically, the first adult molt among chickens is when they are about 18 months old and usually occurs in the fall as the days grow shorter.  The curious part, probably, is that her sister is not (yet) molting, but has decided to go broody, instead.  Either way, they’ve both found a successful way to shut down egg production for the time being.

Molting

Meanwhile, all four girls cluck and chortle when they hear me coming to un-batten the hatches and let them out for the day.  Maybe I only imagine that they are disappointed to find it’s me coming with water and food, but I don’t think so.  I share their angst!  I’m eager for Farmer Nyel to be back to his normal duties, too!