My 3 YR old RIR Hen just snatched and ate feathers off a 3mo old

[Cyberous]

My girls are free ranging in the yard right now. I gave them some mulberries off the tree. One of the small RIR's (3 mo old) came in and snatched one away from the older RIR.

I looked over and they were trying to do it again but the older RIR grabbed a buch of feathers out of the offending pullet. Then she began to eat the feathers, the older Red Star joined in the feast of eating feathers.

What does it mean?

Don

 

[Robin'sBrood]

The other day when I let some of my teenagers out with the adults my roo grabbed one of the little girls and pulled some of her feathers out. Then he and my 3 adult hens ATE those feathers. I'm with the OP in asking what the heck is that about?

 

[rebecca10782]

I don't know, chickens eat just about anything

I don't think they know why they do it. Once, one of our girls bit the younger one right in the butt, yanked out a huge tail feather and gobbled it down

 

[Cyberous]

I found this link to be helpful

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=176901

Maybe its time to Cull the old girl,.. she doen't produce eggs anyway

Don