hen eating roosters feathers?

[buffy O's]

We have a hen, possibly 2 that are breaking off our roosters tail feathers and eating them. One morning we noticed that the roo's tail feathers were a lot shorter and then we noticed one of the hens nipping them off with her beak and eating them. The roo is really good with the girls and he just kinda flinched when she would do that but doesn't bother her. She is about 5 wks younger than him, so she is quite a bit smaller. I just don't understand why he lets her.
Any ideas?

 

[fshinggrl]

It sounds as if they need some more protein in their diet. Sunflower seed, cat food.. would be likely sources.