Why is my cockerel eating feathers??!!

[Three Little Bunnies]

Hi!

I was watching the chickens this afternoon and noticed my almost 12-week-old bantam Cochin cockerel eating some of the small feathers the chickens shed on a regular basis. He eats Nature's Best Organic Chick Crumbles. Is there some kind of deficiency in his diet that causes him to want the protein in feathers?

 

[Starburst]

Your cockerel might be eating feathers because he is bored, hot, overcrowded, or because he wants more protein. Feathers are basically all protein, so that could be a reason. He may also just eat them because he's curious. Hope this helps!

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Your cockerel might be eating feathers because he is bored, hot, overcrowded, or because he wants more protein. Feathers are basically all protein, so that could be a reason. He may also just eat them because he's curious. Hope this helps!

Thank you! He is probably bored and hot, his coop/run isn't that interesting and it is ~90 or more right now.

 

[Starburst]

Glad to help. As I said, he may also not be getting enough protein. Just in case, you can give him treats like sunflower seeds, boiled eggs, mealworms, etc. You could even put the treats in something to make it an activity, that way your keeping him active, entertained, and giving him some protein.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Glad to help. As I said, he may also not be getting enough protein. Just in case, you can give him treats like sunflower seeds, boiled eggs, mealworms, etc. You could even put the treats in something to make it an activity, that way your keeping him active, entertained, and giving him some protein.

Okay. I thought you couldn't give mealworms until they start laying? Or I guess for roosters it would be twenty-four weeks.

 

[Starburst]

I don't know why you shouldn't give chickens at younger age mealworms. Is there a particular reason?

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

I don't know why you shouldn't give chickens at younger age mealworms. Is there a particular reason?

I don't know! I guess I just assumed that you couldn't since I don't feed scratch until laying age.

 

[Starburst]

Scratch makes the body work hard as it digests, but mealworms I wouldn't see a problem with...think of when chickens are in the wild, they eat bugs from a very young age. I've given mealworms to my chicks all the time, so I think it should be okay. Though I guess it would make sense why you thought that, seeing that scratch is a treat, and mealworms are too.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Scratch makes the body work hard as it digests, but mealworms I wouldn't see a problem with...think of when chickens are in the wild, they eat bugs from a very young age. I've given mealworms to my chicks all the time, so I think it should be okay. Though I guess it would make sense why you thought that, seeing that scratch is a treat, and mealworms are too.

Very true. I just realized that I feed hornworms to my 12-week-olds and they are worms just like mealworms, although slightly different.

 

[Boccom]

Glad to help. As I said, he may also not be getting enough protein. Just in case, you can give him treats like sunflower seeds, boiled eggs, mealworms, etc. You could even put the treats in something to make it an activity, that way your keeping him active, entertained, and giving him some protein.

why would you feed chickens eggs my chickens are smart enough to tell boiled eggs are eggs and it will make them eat their eggs