What the...oh new feathers!

A short while ago I noticed my new ex-batts oven ready bits* were going black...omg, they're freezing from the cold before my very eyes 

Then I realised the black bits were prickly...new feathers!!!

Now, I'm afraid I have to admit that I found this a bit repulsive to look at in the beginning, but thrilled and amazed at the same time because it has happened so fast - and it's fascinating to watch how they grow, and how fast...you can now see the tops of little brown feathers starting to poke out of the long dark hard bits.  Amazing. 

*regarding 'oven ready', when I first came on here before I got the ex-batts I wasn't sure what that really meant, but when I brought them home I was shocked to discover that parts of my hens look exactly like a raw chicken with legs.  Maybe not a shock to most, but it was to me.   

You must feel so proud, what an achievement to give the poor little things a second chance, well done theyre heart warming stories xx

OK, trying to add pics...

These are from the day I got them (few days before Christmas)...and I hadn't appreciated how much they have come on in just a few weeks, until I saw these. 

Wish I'd been able to do some proper individual mug shots to really see their progress!   

They don't look too bad here, webwahm, and I'm sure they look much better even now 
I think the reading matter (shown in the second pic) is a jolly good idea - stop them getting bored  !

  ...it's the latest Practical Poultry - bit of self help reading, self-esteem building etc   

They weren't half as bad as I expected - but you can't tell on the pics where they are naked...on their fronts from leaning over the cage to feed I expect, their 'behinds' and their backs, from being pecked in the cages?

@Neil - the white thing is a feeder yes, and I have no idea why they use the wire - maybe to try make things less of a free for all...doesn't work with mine though, they just flip it off and dive in!

It's just nice and compact for inside the coop, I use one of the traditional big round ones outside.

...funny you should say that, because that's exactly what they had done this morning when I went in!!!