Feather eating (not picking)

[ShrekDawg]

I just watched one of my hens pick up a feather off the ground and swallow it whole.

Is this common? I’ve never seen any of my birds eat feathers before. She doesn’t pick them off the other birds or anything like that as far as I’m aware. Just picked this one off the ground.

Do birds do that sometimes??

I know feather picking can sometimes be a sign of too low protein or whatever but is feather eating the same? Or did she just feel like eating it?

They’re on layer feed atm but it’s higher protein than most, 18%. And this feed is also relatively new like a few weeks maybe. They’ve had it before but not in a while. They were on amulti flock for a while before this and this particular multi flock is also higher protein than some of the others, I think like 22% or 23% instead of 20%. So maybe she’s just used to the higher protein of that??

They also usually free range but they haven’t this week since I just lost a few to coyotes last weekend.

Maybe she’s just bored?

I’m probably just overthinking this.

But I’m just curious.

Oh and also one of my other birds is pretty mean to my new birds, could that be diet related too? Although she was like that before I switched so maybe not but she’s gotten worse I feel like.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Rarely do I see my hens 1.5 to 4 years eat feathers off the ground, but the few times I have its a small feather 2" or 3" long.

Did you change from Crumbles to Pellets?
Some hens just don't like Pellets.
4% is a big drop in Protein, especially if they don't like Pellets, assuming the previous feed was Crumbles.

I regularly switch between 18 and 20% Protein depending upon what's available when I'm at TSC without a problem. Both feeds are Crumbles.

I would think they are bored not being able to Free Range.
My hens are allowed to Free Range an hour before sunset daily, weather permitting.

I have found that my 7 Barred Rock pullets were much happier when I doubled their pen from 100 square feet to 200. (14 square feet per Hen to 28). It's a raised coop 20" so it doesn't take up ground space.

I eventually tripled the original Pen size to 300 square feet 42 square feet per chicken. No change in behavior after grass was consumed. 28 square feet per hen was enough.

As far as the Bully hen, one of my older hens from my first Flock would run off my second Flock whenever they got to close when Free Ranging. (each flock has their own coop and pen). until recently.
It took nearly a year till she accepted the young girls.
Now they forage together and even venture into each other's pen.

Wow, I said a lot. Hope it helps. GC

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yup, I've seen hens casually pick up a shed feather and eat it as if it was a leaf. No feather picking issues.

 

[keesmom]

Mine eat feathers off the ground from time to time, and they get 20-22% protein feed.

 

[Callender Girl]

I knew chickens occasionally ate feathers, but it wasn't until I had a house chicken (long story) that I realized how often some hens eat their feathers. I've read that they are just "recycling" nutrients and there's nothing to worry about.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Rarely do I see my hens 1.5 to 4 years eat feathers off the ground, but the few times I have its a small feather 2" or 3" long.

Did you change from Crumbles to Pellets?
Some hens just don't like Pellets.
4% is a big drop in Protein, especially if they don't like Pellets, assuming the previous feed was Crumbles.

I regularly switch between 18 and 20% Protein depending upon what's available when I'm at TSC without a problem. Both feeds are Crumbles.

I would think they are bored not being able to Free Range.
My hens are allowed to Free Range an hour before sunset daily, weather permitting.

I have found that my 7 Barred Rock pullets were much happier when I doubled their pen from 100 square feet to 200. (14 square feet per Hen to 28). It's a raised coop 20" so it doesn't take up ground space.View attachment 2140019View attachment 2140022
I eventually tripled the original Pen size to 300 square feet 42 square feet per chicken. No change in behavior after grass was consumed. 28 square feet per hen was enough.

As far as the Bully hen, one of my older hens from my first Flock would run off my second Flock whenever they got to close when Free Ranging. (each flock has their own coop and pen). until recently.
It took nearly a year till she accepted the young girls.
Now they forage together and even venture into each other's pen.View attachment 2140029 Wow, I said a lot. Hope it helps. GC

Yeah I think they just don’t like pellets!!! They seem to eat way less with them. Which sucks because I still have two bags left. this one is actually a “crumblet” or mini pellet I think so smaller and they also usually like this brand so who knows haha

And oh wow they must love all that space!!! I need to expand my girls’ run. It’s definitely too small. But they’re hopefully moving to a new coop and run soon anyway.

And hopefully she accepts them soon!! My last birds (including her) took forever to finally be accepted into the flock and free range as one group instead of splitting up, etc. so I guess it takes time. Although she’s even been mean to one of her own flock mates lately. poor girl gets relentlessly beat up same with the new kids.

Although last year one of my girls was extremely mean to my pullets for months too so maybe it’s normal?? Seems to be a pattern now of everyone else accepting new birds and one hen having a hard time with it for months haha

I also just lost three birds last week to I think coyotes so maybe that’s part of it though she was mean before too.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yup, I've seen hens casually pick up a shed feather and eat it as if it was a leaf. No feather picking issues.

Mine eat feathers off the ground from time to time, and they get 20-22% protein feed.

I knew chickens occasionally ate feathers, but it wasn't until I had a house chicken (long story) that I realized how often some hens eat their feathers. I've read that they are just "recycling" nutrients and there's nothing to worry about.

Thank you all!! This is a huge relief hahah

 

[LadyAchee]

Just had to add that my baby chicks will run after a floating piece of down in the air. But I don't think they know it's not a bug, lol.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Just had to add that my baby chicks will run after a floating piece of down in the air. But I don't think they know it's not a bug, lol.

That’s hilarious