Eating Feathers?

[AuntNomi]

This Rooster of mine is eating feathers! Why would he do that? And will it hurt him? I have been trying my hardest to make sure that I pick up every feather I see in the coop and around the yard, however I find it close to impossible to find them all. My chickens free range almost all day long so this is a very hard task for me. However I do spend hours each day outside with them, as I am afrai of something getting them, so I have been able to keep the yard clean. Is he just crazy?

 

[chicapee]

This Rooster of mine is eating feathers! Why would he do that? And will it hurt him? I have been trying my hardest to make sure that I pick up every feather I see in the coop and around the yard, however I find it close to impossible to find them all. My chickens free range almost all day long so this is a very hard task for me. However I do spend hours each day outside with them, as I am afrai of something getting them, so I have been able to keep the yard clean. Is he just crazy?

He may need a bit more protein? If he is a year old he may also be due to molt soon and they often need a higher protein feed.

 

[aart]

This Rooster of mine is eating feathers! Why would he do that? And will it hurt him? I have been trying my hardest to make sure that I pick up every feather I see in the coop and around the yard, however I find it close to impossible to find them all. My chickens free range almost all day long so this is a very hard task for me. However I do spend hours each day outside with them, as I am afrai of something getting them, so I have been able to keep the yard clean.
Is he just crazy?

No, you are....lol....c'mon, please, laugh with me

.
I can't imagine trying to pick up every feather, or any of them.
I'm sorry, I do not mean to offend, that just really hit my funny bone this morning.

Seriously tho, it's not unusual or harmful for chickens to eat feathers.
But it could very well be that he is low on protein, feathers are very high in protein, like almost 100%.
I would bump up his protein levels, especially animal protein, and especially if he is molting.

How old is he?
What are you feeding?

 

[Nicks Chickens]

It's kind of natural really, my chickens do it all the time when they have loose feathers.