So what's the deal with fathers eating/composting

[hisbride]

My pullets are feathering out and with 23 there are feathers everywhere. I have already got in the run area that has a net which is no higher than about 4 1/2 feet and raked it out.
Should they be eating the feathers? WhenI rake out the run are the feathers OK to be composted??
I know these are stupid questions but I feel better asking than assuming.

 

[Rooster01]

I wouldn't let them eat feathers. That could result in them pecking and eating the feathers off of others once they acquire the taste for feathers.

I'm not sure about composting them. I guess you could but I'm not 100% certain.

 

[CarriBrown]

If they are eating feathers, they could be lacking protein. You can hard boil some eggs, feed them cat food as a treat, or even cook some chicken or lean hamburger meat for them.

 

[hisbride]

I just thought they were bored. They get alfalfa and feed plus scraps. Thanks for tip that they might need protien. There is no way I can stop them from eating it because the feathers are everywhere and even when I raked it out there were still plenty I could not get to.

 

[MayberrySaint]

"So what's the deal with fathers eating/composting"

Is this a new fad diet??? Fathers eating compost???

 

[hisbride]

OMG!!! I didn't even see the typo till just now! Funny!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:

I was wondering the same thing!

 

[Lunachick]

Haha - I was wondering when the father was going to eat the compost, darn - it was a typo!

 

[SandraChick]

If the protein addition doesn't work....give them some sunflower seeds...the kind you buy to feed songbirds is fine--shell and all (black oil sunflower seeds or BOSS)

Sunflower seesds have melanine (sp?)...which is also found in feathers.

I've have mostly rescued chickens---and most came with feather eating issues. Some extra protein and sunflower seeds and the problem was gone in 2-3 days. From speaking with others, usually one or the other works, so I just do both.

Feather picking can become a habitual thing...so if they've started that, find your culprit and separate them for a few days to "break the habit".

Sandra

 

[hisbride]

Well it is not that they are pecking feathers off themselves or each other but eating the ones that are on the ground. You know the feathers they drop as they mature. I will look for the black oil sunflower seeds at my local nursery and feed store.