All the falling feathers in the coop...

[Yay Chicks!]

Three out of four of my hens are in various stages of molt. The coop, of course, looks like someone had a massive pillow fight. Is there any reason to not just leave the feathers there? I haven't been trying to get them out, just turning them into the existing shavings...

 

[mstricer]

They are fine in their if you deep liter just mix everything together. I've had chickens eat feathers while processing meat birds, I thought it was because they have lots of protein in the shafts.

 

[CMV]

I always just leave the feathers in the coop. Any that aren't eaten get composted with the rest of the bedding. Unfortunately, my 6 y.o. daughter feels the need to collect all pretty feather specimens at every egg collection. The net result is that I am getting 1-3 eggs and about 30 feathers each day. I would prefer to be getting more eggs.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Thanks. I couldn't imagine what it might harm, but there was something in the back of my brain that was questioning it.