Eating feathers

[dreamgirl]

I noiticed the other day that some of my 11 week old girls were eating feathers. I think I read this may mean they are short on protein. I am feedign them the grower mix specified for 8-22 week olds (14.5% protien). Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[mainely-chick]

My 16 week girls still do the same thing.
I assumed they just don't know any better?
They see something and peck/eat it.
They seem none the worse for wear?

 

[devora]

My Wyandotte will eat any tiny feather that comes off the leghorns, gulp. She seems healthy so I’d like to know more about the potential for protein deficiency. Guess they will get some hard boiled egg for treats tonight!

 

[xitaa]

I read in the "Back Yard Poultry" magazine that feeding dry cat food and/or mashed up hard boiled eggs about every 2 weeks will stop feather picking. I tried the cat food and it worked.

 

[silkiechicken]

I figure as long as they are not picking feathers out and eating them, they are fine if they are on commerical feed. It could also be a shortage of manganeese. So some catfood and black oil sunflower seeds can fix it right up.

 

[dlhunicorn]

...the specific aminoacid (i.e PROTEIN) associated with this is methionine... give them yoghurt (the live culture one) as this is one source of that... cat feed as a regular daily supplement...not with my birds tyvm...