Eating feathers

[tsperry88]

I know pecking feather off other birds is bad, buty chickens gobble up any feather they naturally drop. Particularly the down. Is that normal?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It can be, but it also could be the start of a protein deficiency. How old and what are you feeding?

 

[orloffer]

Feathers are full of protein, so chickens who aren't getting enough will resort to eating them.

 

[tsperry88]

They are only 11 weeks and eating new Country Organics grower feed. Should I be giving them something high I'm calcium yet?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

No to the calcium at their age. Since they are younger and on a grower they should be okay. What's the protein content?

Oyster shells are for calcium, not protein.

 

[tsperry88]

19% protein. It's milled grains, so its possible they pick out what they want and don't get what they need. I try not to top off their feed too often so they can't be picky. I give them a scoop in the am and pm and make them eat the parts they don't like the rest of the day. For that reason I have considered going to a crumble or pellets.

 

[orloffer]

I apologize for mixing up my facts in my post above. Hopefully I didn't confuse too many people. Thanks for correcting me, oldhenlikesdogs!

 

[tsperry88]

Is that a speckled Sussex in your profile photo orloffer? I have a few of them. I also lost a few of them. They are brave but ditsy sometimes I'm guessing one had a staredown with a fox.

 

[orloffer]

I do have a Sussex, but this is actually a Russian Orloff hen. Her name is, well, Orloff. Thanks for asking!

 

[aart]

19% protein. It's milled grains, so its possible they pick out what they want and don't get what they need. I try not to top off their feed too often so they can't be picky. I give them a scoop in the am and pm and make them eat the parts they don't like the rest of the day. For that reason I have considered going to a crumble or pellets.

They should have feed available all day long.
Cracked grain feeds are best utilized when wetted or fermented, so the 'fines'(vitamins/minerals/amino acids) get eaten.
Might want to go to pellets or crumbles.