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Feather eating ?? hmmmm, weirdo !!!!!

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by swtangel321, Jul 20, 2008.

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  1. Jul 20, 2008 #1
    swtangel321

    swtangel321 ~Crazy Egg Lady~

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    Today I was watching our hens, one of them found a feather that came off the rooster..... it was a good sized one, so she walked over to it and ate it, took her a min to get it all down but she did.... Is that normal ??? anyone else have a hen that does that ?? I think I have some of the weirdest chickens !!!!
     
  2. Jul 20, 2008 #2
    silverwing0904

    silverwing0904 In the Brooder

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    My hens eat their feathers all the time they go up to a random feather on the ground and .... MUNCH MUNCH munch it's really weird isn't it mabye extra protein or something?!
     
  3. Jul 20, 2008 #3
    swtangel321

    swtangel321 ~Crazy Egg Lady~

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    Well I feel a little better I don't have all the weird chickens [​IMG] She is a new hen to me so I have NEVER seen any of my others do it, maybe little little ones that who even knew they were a feather.... as i was watching I was like "wow that looks yummy"

    This week ive seen feather eating, my hen mounting my other hen (guess my rooster sucks at it, and they are trying to tell him something) and another one of my hens is growing spurs !!!
    I think thats it !!! [​IMG]

    Like you said maybe they think it's good for them !!!
     
  4. Jul 21, 2008 #4
    ella

    ella Songster

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    It's called recycling. Your hens are going green. [​IMG]
     
  5. Jul 21, 2008 #5
    ella

    ella Songster

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    Aboard the the Heart of Gold
    Seriously all my hens do that it's normal. [​IMG]
     
  6. Jul 21, 2008 #6
    JennsPeeps

    JennsPeeps Rhymes with 'henn'

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    Wish my chickens woudl eat the feathers - would make my yard less messy!
     
  7. Jul 21, 2008 #7
    mtnhomechick

    mtnhomechick Songster

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    I'm glad you posted this. My girls were doing that too and I though OMG .........will they be ok? Chickens are weird and adorable. I luv em'.
     
  8. Jul 21, 2008 #8
    ashyannehand

    ashyannehand Songster

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    I have never seen a hen eat a feather. Maybe mine are closet feather eaters! [​IMG]

    To each his own, I guess! [​IMG]
     
  9. Jul 21, 2008 #9
    Farmer Kitty

    Farmer Kitty Flock Mistress

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    Your chickens are lacking Methione. Methione- An amino acid (containing sulfur) required for feather growth. It's found in black oil sunflower seeds which also contain 30% protein.

    There have been many post on this in the past and feeding the BOSS (black oil sunflower seed) does really help. Upping their protein can help too. Eating may lead to impacted crop.
     
  10. Jul 22, 2008 #10
    12 Acres

    12 Acres Songster

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