Chicken eating feathers

[Three Little Bunnies]

Hi!

I have an 11-month-old bantam Brahma pullet who has been pulling the feathers off of her sisters.
At first I assumed she was being a bully but then realized that she was eating them.
What does this mean? Is she low on protein? Is she just bored?
How can I get her to stop?

I got her about a month and a half ago when she was expelled from her previous flock for bullying, but I now wonder if this is the same issue.
She eats non-GMO feed from TSC and scratch and mealworms, plus kitchen scraps and anything she catches outside.

 

[black_cat]

Is she high or low in the pecking order?
My first thought is that she is low on protein. I'd switch to a grower or all flock feed instead of layer and provide oyster shell on the side. You want to try to act quickly, because eating feathers can cause impacted crop.

 

[CluckerFamily]

My first thought was also that she is low on protein. I would increase her protein intake to see if the behavior changes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It could be protein related, or boredom, or both.

What is the protein % in your feed? I'd cut down/out on the snacks too, you're diluting down the protein with things like scratch.

What's in the yard or run space for the chickens to do? Is it just a big empty rectangle, or are there things for them to climb on, run around, dig through, etc?

 

[aart]

I got her about a month and a half ago when she was expelled from her previous flock for bullying, but I now wonder if this is the same issue.

More than likely, yes.