I'm molting

not melting,

I'm molting.

Lately I have been collecting mini sized eggs from my hens. Not only that, but only one or two eggs a day (compared to an average of seven awhile back). I actually had to buy white eggs from the store to keep up with my family's breakfast order, which kinda freaked the kids out. "Mom, what's the matter with this egg, it's white?!"

I thought my chickens might be sick, but turns out they need a "reset" time. It's called "molting." It's normal for chickens to stop laying eggs for a bit this time of year. They put all that egg-makin' energy into rejuvenating their feathers and bodies. Less daylight and colder weather tell them it's time.

Maybe it's the time change, the cold weather, the shorter days, but it feels like I'm taking that big deep breath before hunkering down for winter too. Time to wind down from harvest, and step into the snowboots.

Just molting.