OEG bantam roo is eating feathers...

[susanah]

He is between 6 and 7 weeks old now. I've seen him eat several small ones off the ground...and he's tried to eat some larger ones and failed.
But I don't think he's picking at the others. They are pretty much only getting their medicated starter feed and some free range time.
But I also noticed he doesn't seem to eat as much from the feeder as the other 2 chicks (which I think are hens). Is this normal?

 

[Judy]

I think all chickens eat feathers now and then -- I've certainly seen many of mine do it. I've never seen any of them pull feathers out of the others. They just eat some of what is lying around, especially if they are small feathers.

 

[enola]

When he starts pecking/pulling them right off of his buddies, then you have problems.

 

[Whiskey Bay]

Still,you should give him some crushed oyster shell.The calcium helps stop them from doing it. I have seen them go from picking feathers from the ground to picking from others...