gracefruit Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I was outside winning friends with a cup of mealworms today when I noticed Toast eating a feather. I thought she was just playing about with it, but no -- she swallowed it! Is this normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Yes. They do seem to have a liking for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo&Fudge Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Hello I was going to post exactly the same question. I noticed our girls eating feathers this evening when they were free ranging and even pulling them out of each other to eat. It didn't seem to bother the hen who was having the feathers taken! Is this normal/OK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracefruit Posted August 14, 2008 Author Share Posted August 14, 2008 I'm glad mine isn't the only one. I know chickens are mad recyclers, but I was concerned that the feather eating might mean some sort of nutritional deficiency. But if they all do it, maybe not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Girl Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I have a chook with a bald patch that never regrows, I mentioned it to Jude at Cotswold Chickens and she said chickens can get addicted to the keratin in the feather and that it wasn't a good sign for the feather regrowing ! Thankfully my chooks bald patch is only small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 My dog eats the feathers from the run! Quite funny when they come out other end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 My dog eats the feathers from the run! Quite funny when they come out other end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
