deliberately feeding feathers

[Judy]

Quote:
I wouldn't. Seems to me you'd be reinforcing a bad habit. And an animal that loves to eat styrofoam isn't likely to get tired of anything, I wouldn't think.

 

[WhoopiePie]

Quote:
I wouldn't. Seems to me you'd be reinforcing a bad habit. And an animal that loves to eat styrofoam isn't likely to get tired of anything, I wouldn't think.

x2, and also you never know what kind of parasites or whatever might be on those feathers (cuz obviously you'd be getting them from other chickens, right?).

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

IF it is not a mite problem or a confinement problem (too many birds in too small a space), then it is probably too little protein for their needs.


I noticed that as my birds go molting over this winter, that they seem to need more protein in their diet than they get from the pre-mixed pellets I give them.


So I have supplemented their diet with one or two of the following each day:


Boiled, chopped egg (this is a really good use of that occasional egg that gets soiled with dirt or even a bit of poo -- just wash it, then boil it, then feed it back to the chickens)

Raw milk

Black oil sunflower seeds

Dry cat food kibble (not very often, though, cuz the other three are better sources for chickens)


I use raw milk because I have a dairy farmer friend who shares the old milk with me.


If you don't have raw milk available (and most people don't), then yogurt or cottage cheese are alternatives that would serve the same purpose.


Canned tuna, macarel or salmon can also provide extra protein for the chickens. So, for that matter, is a stray mouse that they might catch themselves. I'm not fond of them catching and eating mice -- and I do everything I can to keep their home mouse free -- but no matter how much I try, mice still get into their henhouse. And if they do happen to catch and eat one -- well, out in the wild, that is a natural food for the chickens to eat. So I keep reminding myself of that fact, and don't make any move to take the mouse from them.