Feather eaters?

[femalecbrown]

Can anyone tell me why chickens eat chicken feathers? Should I be concerned about this?

 

[LegHorn-BusHorn]

They are needing more protien in their diet. I give mine black oiled sunflower seeds and they love them. No more feather eating.

 

[beverlyl]

My chickens are eating feathers also, so... what is a good source of protein?

 

[bloomnbeauty]

Taking a tip from someone on the board I started feeding mine dry cat food. I grind it up in my blender and mix it with their layer a few times a month and that has stopped mine from eating feathers.

 

[chookchick]

Some people use cat food, I use washed cottage cheese and high protein bird feed. You can also use cooked egg, unpastuerized milk, meal worms, even fish that is low salt. Make sure they have access to plenty of grit, and oyster shell if they are layers. I have a pullet that did that when she was young, she is an odd one, but with the added protein she lays well.

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
this is a great way to remedy the feather eating. cat food is very high in salt and can be a problem.

yogurt, hard boiled or scrambled eggs and other sources have been used.