Hi Steve All the advise above sound pretty good. Molting is a good possibility. Also were you there when he caught them. We use a leg catch for our chickens and turkeys when we catch them to sell but the Guineas are a different story. Feathers get left behind every time with them. Another thought besides the molting. possibly lice came with them. Try some Sevin dust especially if there is a lot of the vent and tail fluff showing. If itÂs the actual tail feathers it can still be lice. ItÂs probably pretty cold in NJ and the Rhodes are a heavy bird that will fluctuate a lot in the winter but will continue to lay. After the girls are settled in if they still arenÂt laying as much as you think they should (and remember they will back off substantially in the winter) then try some red pepper flakes sprinkled free choice on their feed ration. It gets the blood moving and warms them up and also helps with internal parasites. Hope you have buyers lined up for the Spring. Mike

Ann, this might help: Years ago, I lived in a tiny cottage behind a big house, with fields behind. We had a terrible hot spell, and a black snake (though probably not the same as a Tennessee snake) got into the cottage and took up residence between the metal shower stall and the wall (I discovered this while taking a shower, but I'll say no more about that...). My mother took to calling me on the phone and saying, "And how is Mr. Snake today?" And, of course, after she did that there could be no killing - I would see his little head poking out from his nook behind the shower, and I would be hopelessly anthropomorphic... So just try to think of them as Mr. Snake (or, of course, Mrs. Snake), and maybe you will feel more kindly towards them.

Hi Gail I have not been on in a while, so glad that your hawks are bonding...such a nice site to see... My RT's have moved down the street I do not see them as often but they do still come around...they are building the nest elsewhere as I have observed them carrying sticks .. This winter I have not been out much with my Hubby being sick I have been otherwise occupied....but things are looking up and I have started getting out and can not wait until spring and watching the RT's is a sure sign....will keep you posted...hopefully the pair will be successful this year...Claire

Hi all, I'm new here, (2nd post) but that photo looks like a Cooper's Hawk to me. Here's a shot of (what was ID'd by others as) a Red-Shouldered Hawk: Pretty, but pretty different I think. I have some other shots of this guy at the link below. Kenn Here is a link that might be useful: Red-Shouldered Hawk