Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[Smiler33]

I was out cleaning the Cube when Tikka pottered along beside me, put her head down and ate a feather! Is this normal? They get Farmgate Layers Pellets, a little bit of Poultry Spice each day and some mixed grit.

 

Thanks in advance

[Eggasperated]

Mine eat feathers all the time, unfortunately they usually pull them out of each other rather than picking up any on the ground

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I was watching Poppy obsessively pecking at Molly's chest this afternoon . It looked like she was plucking feathers (although I couldn't see the feathers coming out). Molly didn't seem to mind - maybe it was beasties .

[chickyhazel]

This can happen if they are bored - do they have perches, dustbathing, free ranging, etc? Or it could be because of red mite - you can buy powder to deal with this

 

Hazel, Ranger, Audi, Porsche, RIP Chestnut

[Smiler33]

John is going to make perches for them, but they dustbathe and free range (were out from 11.30 - 5.30 today). I also clean the Cube each week with Smite, which I think kills mites. I haven't seen her do anything today.

[GGLGirls]

Our girls eat the 'baby' fluffy feathers, they started when they were chicks, and still do it one year later. They dont pull them from each other, its only if they find them lying about. I used to worry but it seems not to do them any harm. Have no clue why they do it.

[shiney]

Hi, mine eat feathers from around the garden too, its gross but natural I guess!

[chickyhazel]

It could be because of a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Do they lay soft or thin shelled eggs? Do they do runny poos? Do they have any other strange behaviour?

 

Hazel, Ranger, Audi, Porsche, RIP Chestnut, +1 not named

Noodle

 

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[Smiler33]

Tikka isn't laying yet. They all do soft poos that look like chicken korma and are stinky but they also do normal ones too. I'd say Tikka (the one who ate the feather) does a lot more soft ones than the other girls.

[chickyhazel]

Then she is probably deficient in something. Grit, bokashi bran (I think that's how you spell it, I'll check) and cooked crushed eggshells should help. Cod liver oil should as well, and garlic helps the smell. Don't give them all though, choose which ones you think will work best and you want to give. You know your chickens.

[chickyhazel]

I would try and stop her eating the feathers, it probably isn't very good for her. Good luck trying to stop it!

[Smiler33]

Thanks -Chickyhazel, I've only seen her do it the once but am going to try some cod liver oil too I think in their water. They already have grit with their corn so that'll be 2 things from your list to try!

[vikchick]

I understand its a lack of protien in there diet feathers have proteine in them , give them some scrambled eggs or something else high in proteine

[chickyhazel]

But make sure you don't give them raw egg, or they'll be eating their eggs next!