Do your chickens eat feathers?

[lovemychix]

My hens eat feathers that are lost....gobble them right up. What the heck? I'm new at "chicken farming"

but I find this just crazy. Please tell me I have wierd hens.

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

I just posted the same question!!! I have never seen chickens eat feathers before. Hopefully we will get our answer. I wonder if they digest the feathers??

 

[lovemychix]

I saw that...I had to make sure it wasn't my post. It's crazy behavior but maybe it's normal...

They have been doing it for some time and they seem ok.

 

[silkiechicken]

It's normal. Somemtimes it is a sign of needing more protein, but as long as they aren't attacking each other for feathers, they should be fine.

 

[tackyrama]

I've noticed some of my younger ones playing with and sometimes eating feathers. I've not noticed any of the older ones doing this. When your young I guess you get bored easily.

 

[cmom]

Once in awhile I will see one of my birds eat a feather, but they get a lot of treats and free choice including bugs.

 

[swtangel321]

Its a lack of somthing in there diet, Try giving them some black oil sunflower seeds.... See if that helps..... Mine were doing this also and it seemed to work for me (they still eat some just not as many as they were) I mostly see them do it after the roos does his job they will all run over and see if any feathers fell off !!!!

 

[lovemychix]

They get lots of treat...of course it never seems enough!!

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Quote:
What kind of feed has protein in it? I feed mine a mix of laying mash, game bird feed, cracked corn, sweet feed for horses. The game bird feed has a little bit of everything.