what do you do with molted feathers?

[chickengeorgeto]

.... Then why do I see the chickens eat feathers...for the fiber??

You see your chickens eat feathers for the same reason that the Donner party ate their boots when grub became scarce. Because of starvation or near starvation.

 

[RWise]

I will certainly have to disagree with that!! My girls are not starving (a bit fat maybe), and they eat loose feathers all the time. I dont have or see any issue with it, egg shells are thicker after, and I would think a feather has almost everything needed to grow feathers,,,in fact when I process I give the girls the feathers to eat.

 

[Melky]

I will certainly have to disagree with that!! My girls are not starving (a bit fat maybe), and they eat loose feathers all the time. I dont have or see any issue with it, egg shells are thicker after, and I would think a feather has almost everything needed to grow feathers,,,in fact when I process I give the girls the feathers to eat.

While I do not give them feathers to eat, it is considered normal behavior for chickens to actually pop a feather or two in their mouth. Usually a small one that has dropped. They tend to leave the rest alone. They may also spit them back out and change their mind. Chickens will check anything out for food potential based on natural curiosity not necessarily starvation.

 

[aart]

You see your chickens eat feathers for the same reason that the Donner party ate their boots when grub became scarce. Because of starvation or near starvation.

Pffft....they are certainly not starving, nor near to it....but they may be lacking in animal protein as I don't regularly provide it.

I will certainly have to disagree with that!! My girls are not starving .... and they eat loose feathers all the time.

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[CindyinSD]

I will certainly have to disagree with that!! My girls are not starving (a bit fat maybe), and they eat loose feathers all the time. I dont have or see any issue with it, egg shells are thicker after, and I would think a feather has almost everything needed to grow feathers,,,in fact when I process I give the girls the feathers to eat.

This intrigued me so I looked it up... here’s a link: https://www.wur.nl/en/project/Proce...s-from-fundamental-insight-to-application.htm. It sounds like chickens (like humans) can’t break down keratin in the digestive process. Here’s another link about providing sufficient protein, etc. so they won’t have to try to supplement with feathers. https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-chickens-faq/feeding-chickens-what-feed-chickens/ I guess they’ll still eat them, but it’s apparently harmless and normal to eat feathers off the ground (if you’re a chicken anyway!) If they eat them I’d imagine they must get something out of it even if scientists haven’t figured that out yet. That or they’re maybe bored.

 

[New2Chicks97]

I leave them where they fall and let the wind do the rest. It is kind of funny to see them blow past the windows and soar away.

 

[olivigus]

Aha. I KNEW there would be a thread on this. Our run currently looks like a feather factory exploded. I was just wondering today if putting them in the compost was the best way to go and how fast they would break down. Now I'm thinking I could throw some into the already partially cooked-down bin that has all the worms in it as well. Also nice to know I don't have to worry about the occasional feather going down someone's throat. BYC is such a great source of info! (And love the cards too--very pretty.)