Feather eating

[crawfordmama]

Is it normal for a pullet to eat lost feathers? Their not huge, probably around 2" long. I'm trying to keep an eye on her crop, but she's at the age where she'd rather play keep away.

 

[crawfordmama]

Anyone?

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I think a small amount of feather eating will not hurt them, but I am no expert.

I think they eat feathers when they are short on protein and/or roughage.

Picking feathers off each other and eating them from boredom also happens and can be a hard habit to break once started. It can lead to peaking out chunks of flesh and then cannibalism.