Chickens Eating Feathers

[City Cajun]

Yesterday morning while I was out giving the chickens a treat of bread pieces I noticed one of them sort of playing with a feather. then all of a sudden she started to swallow it. Why would they swallow a feather when there is so much else to eat like fresh cut grass, feed, and pieces of bread? Is this a normal thing? Will it digest without getting trapped in the craw?

 

[Judy]

They will do this occasionally. It's just another protein source.

 

[turbodog]

I've seen mine swallow a feather like someone slurping a spaghetti noodle. Kinda freaky to see. No harm though.