My chickens are eating feathers! Yikes!

[upthecreek]

once a chicken starts this it's hard to stop them . You can buy blinkers for chickens kinda like ones used on race horses (google poultry supplies) and i think they make stuff that you put on the spot and it's supposed to stop it .

The problem starts with sub-class chicken feeds of today ...... people want it cheaper and they got it !!!! the craze for no animal , no fish , Proteins and Fats leads to this 99 times out of 100 . Even some that might include it uses other byproducts floor sweepings roughage by products making it almost worthless ....... we are lucky that chickens are so tough to be able to live a couple years on what they call feed .... they will tell you to replace your layers every 1 up to 1 1/2 half years of age (so what does that tell you ??)

 

[upthecreek]

 

[Smangerer]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]Well two days later and yes she is still pecking BUT, she has slowed way down. I only saw her peck twice today and I dont think she took any feathers. I will say that I think the additional protein (black sunflower seeds, scratch and meal worms) has helped but I cant count out the establishing pecking order yet. The pecker was better today but I did notice that she was challenged a couple times today so it could just be that she has lost the top spot.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]Either way, Im not going to try to hard to read a chickens mind. [/FONT]

 

[Graham Bathgate]

How about breaking the eggs for an omelette, poached egg, scrambled egg, etc. then crushing
the shells? Simpler than hard-boiling, etc.

 

[MrsPbio]

Chris09 maybe you should research your information first you said

""Raw" Feather Meal"

That is not the same thing as a feather all the hard parts of a feathers are made up of calcium so check into it!!!

Most people are saying protein because during the molt they are told to add protein but they molt to replenish calcium deposits in there body and proteins help there body with stress that is chaused because of this!!! It's not a protein problem it's calcium or just bordem... If they are not pulling the feathers out don't worry give them treats or scratch to keep busy and add oyster shell to diet!!!

Have fun my keyboard warriors!!!

As a biologist focused on ornithology , I think I can say with some degree of accuracy that feathers are made of the protein KERATIN. Essentially the same material as our fingernails, chicken beaks and claws.

 

[LouieBluie]

I think in my case, WILD KING you are right.
I have 2 year old chickens that were eating each other bald It turns out that they have mites. The mites live right at the base of the feather and pull calcium out of the skin. The chickens are trying to eat the calcium but have to eat the whole feather to get it. So the mites have to be eradicated and the calcium needs to be replenished. Now they are back to normal.

 

[dthompson]

I agree it's probably lack of protein and it can lead to pecking problems. Try feeding Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS). Good source of protein.

I have read a few threads that this could be lack of protein. I have not noticed them bullying or plucking feathers... but when I clean their poop-boards in the morning some will come up and check out what I am doing. If there is a feather on the board, they will pick it up and eat it. I have found this to be odd, to say the least.

I feel them a traditional layer diet and provide protein treats once a day; I have done this all their little lives. So I wonder if they just do it more out of curiosity and boredom? I have 18 new layer pullet hens and 9 that are a bit older... I get b/w 16-18 eggs daily still, in the dead of winter. I would think we would have a reduction in egg production. Thoughts?

 

[Chris09]

I have read a few threads that this could be lack of protein. I have not noticed them bullying or plucking feathers... but when I clean their poop-boards in the morning some will come up and check out what I am doing. If there is a feather on the board, they will pick it up and eat it. I have found this to be odd, to say the least.

I feel them a traditional layer diet and provide protein treats once a day; I have done this all their little lives. So I wonder if they just do it more out of curiosity and boredom? I have 18 new layer pullet hens and 9 that are a bit older... I get b/w 16-18 eggs daily still, in the dead of winter. I would think we would have a reduction in egg production. Thoughts?

What is the protein amount of the layer that your using and what type of protein treats?

 

[dthompson]

What is the protein amount of the layer that your using and what type of protein treats?

I will have to check in the morning... as for the protein treats, I cook up eggs, give them meat...basically our left overs. I did read today that sunflower seeds are good... so I will toss those in their run. I don't see plucking though... and they don't eat all the feathers... mostly the small soft downy ones.

 

[farmgirlinok]

Older the egg, easier they peal. I add a 1/4 cup brown vinegar to the water when I boil, that also helps the pealing.