Could be from the roo, it's in the right area (the saddle) for over-zealous young rooboy attentions...but you can learn more by observing them and knowing what kind of pen they were in. Overcrowding and boredom and can result in birds feather picking each other. So can nutritional deficiencies, specifically protein--deficient birds will pluck and eat feathers. If you see the birds pulling and eating feathers, up the protein levels in the food. Dry, itchy skin can also cause or be a result of missing feathers, so adding a bit of Vitamin E oil (get some at the drugstore, poke a hole in a few capsules and squirt the oil into their food a few times a week) can help calm dry, itchy skin. I would NOT apply the oil to the bare skin as oil fouls feathers and collects dirt, which can let the bird get a chill. Ditto what was said before about parasites--I'd go ahead and treat them all for both internal and external parasites if they are looking in poor health or their prior place was a Chicken Hell. On the other hand, if you see lots of new feathers coming in--like porcupine quills--it could just be a molt and the girls will be fine soon. A stress molt from the move wouldn't be unheard of. Whatever the reason, make sure and offer them lots of room to roam, dirt to dustbathe in, fresh food, water and greens, and some extra protein--growing new feathers takes protein and is hard work! Live mealworms or crickets are like candy to chickens and are a terrific protein source, they LOVE them. :) Velvet ~:>

Hello Nicole, welcome. This is a great group of orchidholics. We enjoy sharing our orchid highs and lows. Glad you're joining in. Marci

Hi Diana! That picture of the storm clouds is really something! Yes, we really get some rough storms here. Last November the neighboring town of Newburgh, as well as part of Evansville was slammed by an F3 tornado. My parents' house was hit, but thankfully they weren't physically hurt... although they were emotionally wrecked. They just moved back in to their repaired/rebuilt home last month. My mom's garden was completely decimated, and now she will have to totally start over. There are no trees now, so she will have a full sun exposure. She is trying to be optimistic about it, but she feels overwhelmed, as well. We've taken garden hoses and laid out the shape of the new beds, so at least that's a start. I have some baby forsythias and Rose of Sharon shrubs that I rooted for her and some perennials. In the fall we will start planting again. Hope springs eternal! :) Take care, Katrina

I grew up not far from you on the east side of Cherry Hill. Don't you just love that Marl - 20 minutes to plant something from a 3 inch pot. And worse, all you've done is make a small swimming pool for the plant. If you can make the Willingboro swap you should. Steve has one of the most exotic private gardens I've ever seen. I can't help you with garden clubs, the only one in the area I seem to recall is an organic group, although there must be others.