Hi Kathy and Megan - Belated condolences for Goldie. I'm going through something very similar with my Austrolorp, Mabel. She's 4 years old and about 6 months ago she started resting frequently, then she progressed to "plopping" every few steps and now she's in "scoot" mode. Like Goldie, up until a few days ago, she has been laying eggs regularly, eating well and other than the mobility, doing fine. This morning my one other hen started fighting with her so I've separated them. My gut is that the other hen senses that she's near her end and is doing what she was meant to do in the wild (get rid of the sick and slow).

Out of necessity (we expanded the coop this week), the girls needed to go to "temporary housing". I set up the x-pen and herded them in - aka bribing them with a "shake of the red cup" that has their sunflower/mealworm treats. They enjoyed being on the side of the yard with some sun. And now, I'm hoping to give them time in their "sunroom" a few times a week. I bribed them again later in the day to go back to their coop. P.S. Mabel, the Australorp laid a brown egg right in front of the feeder - can you see it? Here's a picture of the new coop (We added a 6x3 run in the front of the original Durango raised coop.) - It's amazing! Technically, they could stay in their all the time but I like for them to get some Vitamin D in the winter. .

ok... follow up question. This EEgger "Hazel the bearded lady" has not yet developed a comb. She has to be around 24 weeks. My three others have a comb of various development. She is one of two that has not started laying yet. There seems to be a "stub" of a comb but nothing really protruding yet. Normal? She seem's happy/healthy.

Curious, will my youngsters molt the first year? After all they just got their full feathers a couple months ago! I'm in the San Fernando Valley too! (near Burbank)

Truly the bearded-lady! She's beautiful!

say what? Bearded ladies? LOL. My other Easter Egger doesn't have any of that!

good to know... I'm rather new at this... just had the hens since mid-May and they're youngish (aprox. 10 weeks old). They DO have shade (under the coop in the run). Do they peck at the frozen water?

will do.. I'm leaning towards old fashioned names and have unofficially picked out names for the Easter Eggers ("Hazel" [she was a fictional maid on a TV show in the 60s]- for the more lightly colored one, and "Helen" who's more "orangy" for the new one that came yesterday). I was going to name the "other" one Helen (for Keller and her gumption to thrive with her adversities).. so in honor of her (already miss her and hope she's doing well on the farm), she may be "Helen Crump" for the auburn-haired girlfriend of Andy Taylor on the Andy Griffith show. The others I'm considering are "Opal'" or Miss Brooks (old radio show character) for the Austrolorp and "Mabel" or "Dottie" for the Barred Rock. Stay Tuned for the official naming unveiling! Thanks for asking!!!

I've started with a Barred Rock, Black Australorp and (2) EasterEggers --- so I can tell who's laying what! Still waiting to name the girls... I'll keep you posted!