Normal to have downy feathers everywhere in coop and run?

[mopalia]

So glad you asked this - my chicken yard, with only three 15 week chickens, looks like an explosion in a feather factory. This week they started dropping tail feathers, too. The patterns change so much week to week that i'm having trouble figuring which chick is which. Glad to know this is normal!

 

[DobieLover]

They can eat the feathers, they're full of protein.

I hope they can eat the feathers! My 14 week olds killed and ate an entire fledgling English sparrow!

 

[DobieLover]

So glad you asked this - my chicken yard, with only three 15 week chickens, looks like an explosion in a feather factory. This week they started dropping tail feathers, too. The patterns change so much week to week that i'm having trouble figuring which chick is which. Glad to know this is normal!

Does your coop/run look like mine? My chickens are just over 14 weeks old.

I stir the litter in the coop 2 or 3x per week so there are a lot more in the coop than pictured. They are just mixed in with the bedding. And there are feathers all over the yard too!

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

My chicks are about 13 weeks and my coop and run seem like there are downy feathers EVERYWHERE. Is this normal? They seem fine otherwise, just surprised at the amount they still seem to be losing. When does this usually stop?

Great question! Mine are 15 weeks and over the last 2 weeks i counted birds every morning there were so many feathers on the coop floor. I was convinced something got in. But it has slowed down!