Molting feathers

[Ajoy1955]

This year I have more hens molting than previous years, and there are feathers everywhere! I try to keep them picked up, but I am not getting them all! Is it okay to let the feathers stay in their run? I have heard that feathers in a run can attract lice/mites ..is this true? East Tennessee

 

[GodLovesU]

Ok in that first picture why is your vampire chicken hypnotizing the other one?Please tell me I’m not the only one seeing this.

 

[Debbie292d]

You have such beautiful chickens in very nice poses!!

We use a leaf blower for moving feathers out of the coop. That would work on your run too; just blow them to one corner where you can pick them up.

Yes, different parasites like feathers, though most I think like them on a live bird where it's warm, though they still will harbor in feathers laying around.

 

[Ajoy1955]

Ok in that first picture why is your vampire chicken hypnotizing the other one?Please tell me I’m not the only one seeing this.

Actually the hen with the closed eyes is my dominant hen, and she was just snoozing when Ellie Mae walked up to her lol

 

[Ajoy1955]

You have such beautiful chickens in very nice poses!!

We use a leaf blower for moving feathers out of the coop. That would work on your run too; just blow them to one corner where you can pick them up.

Yes, different parasites like feathers, though most I think like them on a live bird where it's warm, though they still will harbor in feathers laying around.

If I leave some the feathers will it hurt anything? Outside looking not too tidy

 

[Debbie292d]

If I leave some the feathers will it hurt anything? Outside looking not too tidy

A few feathers here and there I doubt hurts anything. We can't possibly keep up sometimes. It's mostly when the ground is covered with them that it could become a problem.

 

[aart]

Unless your birds have lice or mites it's highly unlikely molted feathers on the ground will become infested.
I've never 'cleaned up' shed feathers, they just rot away in my uncovered run. The shafts take much longer to rot than the vanes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I clean up feathers if I find a clump mostly because they're great for compost. Otherwise no need at all to pick them up, they'll break down and fully disappear on their own by the time spring rolls around.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Unless your birds have lice or mites it's highly unlikely molted feathers on the ground will become infested.
I've never 'cleaned up' shed feathers, they just rot away in my uncovered run. The shafts take much longer to rot than the vanes.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I clean up feathers if I find a clump mostly because they're great for compost. Otherwise no need at all to pick them up, they'll break down and fully disappear on their own by the time spring rolls around.