Chickens are eating the feathers off of a chicken that is molting!

[Farmer Jane]

I have a couple chickens that are molting. I've noticed the other chickens pecking at them and at first was worried that they were "bullying" them, but then I saw them actually EATING the feathers that they pecked off the molting chickens! Is this normal? dangerous? Should I separate the ones that are molting until it's over?

 

[Sandstorm495]

Yes, I would seperate the peckers from the moulting ones till it's over. Good luck with this!

 

[chfite]

On the other hand, it is normal for chickens to eat feathers. They eat everything else. I watch my chickens preen each other at times. The target chicken doesn't seem to mind; and there does not seem to be any aggression involved.

Chris