People can develop an allergy to any protein (feathers have a lot of it). Each protein can have its own allergic reaction. For instance, shrimp and crab and lobster are all very similar in their protein (DNA) structure, but a person might only be allergic to shrimp. If they are allergic to a protein that they all have in common, they might be allergic to all three. Also, there are cross reactions that take place. If you are allergic to one protein, you might develop an allergy to many others that are similar. Tree nuts would be a good example. Allergies and autoimmune reactions (like RA) are sometimes inter-related. We know RA and Lupus and some other diseases and it seems that many of the other common diseases (type 2 diabetes, Hypothyroidism, and others) are autoimmune in nature or have an autoimmune component. That means your own body is "allergic" (or more specifically: recognizing part of itself as an antigen (something to be fought off)) and is attacking itself. This creates a cycle of reactions that result inflammation and several other symptoms.
So, yes, you can develop an allergy to chicken meat, eggs (white, yolk, or both), feathers, feather dander, droppings, or any other protein that you are exposed to so often that your body decides that it is a contaminant worthy of reacting against. Some people are more prone to reaction than others though which is why some seem to be able to eat or expose themselves to anything without a reaction and others react to everything.
I teach at a healthsciences university and much of what I discuss with my students regards the reduction of inflammation and avoidance of exposure to potential irritants. Generally this involves the avoidance of those are the mass of toxic substances we come into contact with (artifical ingredients, preservatives, pesticides, plastics, etc) so that when exposed to something as innocuous as a chicken feather they don't end up in a complete allergic cascade. Think the straw that broke the camel's back, or the tipping point. A person's system can only take so much before a cascade starts and once it is very difficult to stop it.
Ok, off my soapbox now...
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