For the last few mornings I have been picking up Topaz’s feathers from the coop. After two weeks broody she has been back to normal for less than a week before going into the moult.
It seems like Topaz is determined not to lay eggs. She has laid a total of five eggs in five months. She laid three in June then took a month off then laid two before going broody and now straight into the moult.
In this same time span Sparkle has laid eighty eggs. I had both wyndottes at the same time (5th April) and they are about the same age.
I was talking to my next door neighbour about her yesterday and she said that Topaz was my princess and is so beautiful that she doesn’t need to lay eggs as well.
For the last few mornings I have been finding a handful of feathers in the coup but Topaz didn’t appear to look any different.
Topaz’s feathers in the coop
They are so beautiful. I found a handful under the perch and a few in the run. An hour later when I went back I saw feathers where she had had a dust bath.
Topaz’s dust bath
Topaz is now losing feathers quicker than the game birds were. She shook herself in front of me and another handful fluttered from her.
I collected the next wave of feathers from the run
This is just from this morning and Topaz is now beginning to show where her feathers are coming out.
Topaz is just beginning to show her missing feathers
Topaz is now looking slightly ruffled
I am surprised she doesn’t look worse than this considering how many feathers I have picked up today. It seems like topaz’s moult is going to be fast.
I wonder if when this is over she will get into her stride with some egg laying. I guess that remains to be seen.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I really don’t know what to say except that at although she is losing her feathers she is not unwell. After hopefully she will look more beautiful than ever.
I think losing feathers must be less stressful than being broody .. Just .
It doesn’t seem to be bothering her at all. Through out her broody spell and now she is losing feathers her comb has remained a lovely red. Topaz seems to take everything in her stride. In a way it’s good to get it all out of the way at once and perhaps she will then finally start laying some eggs.
will you sell her feathers? Do people who fish and make their own lures purchase chicken feathers? Your birds are beautiful!
I have never thought about selling feathers. Topaz feathers are really beautiful but a lot of the feathers have been in, at best dust, at worst mud and poop plus some are tattered which is why they need replacing. I wear my disposable gloves when picking loads of them up.
I don’t know what type of feathers are used for fishing lures, it’s an interesting thought.
I think my birds are beautiful too, but of course I am biased.