eating feathers

[Chickies]

i have 7-week old chicks, and as i was watching them this morning i noticed some were eating feathers that were on the ground--they were 'soft' feathers, down, i guess. has anyone seen this with their own chickens? is this normal/ok?

 

[spook]

yes, I have with my adult hens. I do not believe it has anything to do with diet, mine get enough veggies, grass, clover and bugs free ranging and what I feed them on the side.
As long as they are not feather picking, I guess its fine. I wonder if its to prevent attracting preditors, most chicken yards at molt do not show many feathers laying around could it be possible that they don't want to signal a weekness in ability to fly...?
Thanks for bringing this subject up!

 

[Chickies]

now that you mention it, i don't see as many feathers lying around as i think there should be, with so many growing chicks...