Eating their feathers ?

[countrygirl_247]

Some of my 10 week old chicks eat their feathers are they lacking a vitamin or something?

 

[artsyrobin]

Mine do that too, i know feathers are almost pure protein, but my guess is that it is instinct- my other birds (non-chicken)do it too- maybe to protect evidence they are there from predators?

 

[firedove]

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/diagext.htm This site says feather eating is a sign of Nutritional deficiency-methionine

HOWEVER, I have seen my chickens pick up a feather or two just because it looked good and small enough to fit down their throat, which seems to be as picky as my chickens get when it comes to eating stuff.

 

[countrygirl_247]

That sounds logical the preditor info.

Thanks Angie