chickens

[kgraves]

New to raising chickens. Was surprised to see one of my laying hens eat two chicken feathers...is this normal...

 

[SueT]

Welcome to BYC! Yes, they do eat feathers. Make sure they are getting a complete feed for layers, and not filling up on treats....
Be sure to check out the Learning Center for info on just about everything you need to know!

 

[drumstick diva]

feather eating usually means they need more protein in their diet, you can feed their eggs back to them (scrambled so they don't recognize them as eggs).

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC

As long as your birds are not removing feathers from each other, I would not be overly worried. Few chickens will pass up the chance of more protein.

 

[Kiki]

Hi there!
Welcome to BYC.
This video should help you find your way around the site better, enjoy!

 

[kgraves]

My birds are free range from 8am until 6pm...I also leave laying food in their feeder, and have a seed block and I give scrambled eggs, egg shells, fruit, vegetables when available...and I'm guilty of giving mealworms when it's time to be put up for the night. Yes spoiled birds...so based on previous notes I have nothing to worry about...no need for cat food.

 

[Kiki]

They may be filling up on too many treats.
You may want to read this:
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

 

[black_dove2]

They may be filling up on too many treats.
You may want to read this:
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

Thank you I just read the article and now I understand even more about feed , molting and egg production.

I still don't know about the few feathers my. Danish Brown eats but she's not plucking. Just picks up an occasional down feather (her own) and gobbles it up!

 

[Kiki]

Thank you I just read the article and now I understand even more about feed , molting and egg production.

I still don't know about the few feathers my. Danish Brown eats but she's not plucking. Just picks up an occasional down feather (her own) and gobbles it up!

I'm so glad you found it helpful. A proper diet really does go a long way.

 

[black_dove2]

I'm so glad you found it helpful. A proper diet really does go a long way.

The two are my first hens. I give them a few treats with more of their feed on same tray in morning. They are cricket hunters. Maybe that's what's filling them up. They catch and eat slot of them