Molt.

(The three of us on the slide, slightly related to post)

Raisin is our little, black feathered chicken. She lays cute mini-sized eggs and is usually quite reliable at it. Except for recently she is not so reliable. In fact she is down right CRANKY, and has not laid an egg in a month. It's like she is a PMS'ing bird who has a case of 'little chickens' syndrome (you know, she acts like a jerk to compensate for her size). She is broody, all she wants to do is sit on and warm the other chickens eggs all day. She is also molting. Her whole underbelly is currently feather-less and naked.

The other afternoon I was explaining to Oscar that Raisin is going through a rough time right now. I told him lots of chickens go through a phase where they molt, or lose their feathers. He looked freaked out when I showed him Raisin's bare tummy, but I assured him that her feathers would surely grow back.

A little while later we were playing on our slide out back. I was sitting at the bottom with my back resting on the slide. Oscar slid down and was resting with his feet on my shoulders. As he slid his shoe pulled a few strands of hair off my head. He GASPED, looked down and touched the spot on my head were the hair was pulled out, and exclaimed, "MOM! You're molting!!!" He then said, "Awe, but don't worry Mom... it will grow back."

I was thankful for his reassuring words.