Last Thursday, they didn't look worse, but after a very hot weekend, they have lost a lot more feathers. HOWEVER, I do see some feather tips pushing through the little shafts.
I wanted to learn more about how feathers develop in birds and came across an interesting article online. "A feather develops from a follicle, which is found in the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin. To me, the way the bird’s skin cells are able to develop a large, primary feather, complete with shaft, barbs and barbules is one of those miracles of nature. While a feather is actively growing from the follicle, there is one artery and one vein that runs through the feather to support the growth. Once the feather has reached the full size, the blood supply is no longer needed and the vessels shrivel up. However, the follicle maintains a blood supply in the skin." (Quoted from birdchannel.com)
I wanted to learn more about how feathers develop in birds and came across an interesting article online. "A feather develops from a follicle, which is found in the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin. To me, the way the bird’s skin cells are able to develop a large, primary feather, complete with shaft, barbs and barbules is one of those miracles of nature. While a feather is actively growing from the follicle, there is one artery and one vein that runs through the feather to support the growth. Once the feather has reached the full size, the blood supply is no longer needed and the vessels shrivel up. However, the follicle maintains a blood supply in the skin." (Quoted from birdchannel.com)
I was able to get a good close-up of this happening on the neck of one of the hens shortly before the all started pecking at the camera. So, one of the gals is hard hit by the new feather development, one is so-so, and the third is just now starting to lose her down feathers, but the majority of her feathers are still intact. You can see all three and their various stages below.
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