Richard Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 why do chickens eat feathers? Anybody know? Is it just ultimate recycling? Mine will fight over a feather that has been shed and gobble them down. um. i suppose its just one of those inbuilt things, but it does seem odd. but it does save waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I've read on here before that feathers are a good source of protein - I'd rather eat the tuna personally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 28, 2007 Author Share Posted September 28, 2007 a bit of research, and I find that ...... Feathers are 91% protein, 1.3% fat and 7.9% water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 no - I'd still rather eat tuna thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 tuna for me too, if it's all the same to you Richard! Skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 28, 2007 Author Share Posted September 28, 2007 what are you lot on about - I never mentioned tuna. and I hate the stuff (I remember it from before I was a veggie, and that's many many years ago). I'd rather eat feathers. And, apparently, some of the tuna fisheries are being badly overfished and are in danger of collapse. But I still don't understand why tuna came into this. My girls don't eat tuna and I don't eat tuna. Its feathers I was asking about. mutter mutter mutter .... tuna ... feathers ... tuna .... feathers - don't even sound similar. I've been up and asked them and they have voted 8 to 0 for feathers. they don't even want to know about tuna. tuna smnuna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 They like the taste of the blood at the base of the feather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 tuna smnuna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Richard - I mentioned tuna as it's the widely accepted protein rich food source to give chickens dont get cross just cos you dont like it - I couldnt think of anything else full of protein (and I'd still prefer it to feathers even if I didn't like it - so ner!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Anyway mr grumpy have you given the chickens the choice between feathers and tuna a small preference test You might be surprised by the results *Runs ducking from large heavy object chucked by Richard* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 28, 2007 Author Share Posted September 28, 2007 Richard - I mentioned tuna as it's the widely accepted protein rich food source to give chickens dont get cross just cos you dont like it - I couldnt think of anything else full of protein (and I'd still prefer it to feathers even if I didn't like it - so ner!! Sorry - I'm not getting cross at all - just me going off on one. I didn't realise you give it to chickens; I've never given any to my girls so they are obviously deprived. But they said they didn't fancy it anyway! I don't like the sound of them going for the blood at the base of the feather - ugh. I'm sure my girls are far too nice for that! I'm going off for my lunch, which most definately won't be tuna - a tuna day keeps Richard away. Reminds me of the Sky track - tuba smarties That's Sky the John Williams band, not sky the female singer with - can't remember but it will come to me soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 28, 2007 Author Share Posted September 28, 2007 Anyway mr grumpy have you given the chickens the choice between feathers and tuna a small preference test You might be surprised by the results *Runs ducking from large heavy object chucked by Richard* Yep - I had a pile of feathers on one side and a tin of tuna on the other. And before you ask, I did give them a tinopener (I'm not that stupid to think that they could get into the tin without some help). I went back an hour later and the feathers had all gone and the tin was unopened. Quad erat demonstrandum or words to that effect. feathers; 1 ....................... tuna; minus 5000000000000000000000000000000000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Maybe try opening the tin for them next time Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 and if your chickens were fighting over one dropped feather - where did you get enough to make a pile?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Methinks Richard doth protest too much You secretly love tuna don't you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 28, 2007 Author Share Posted September 28, 2007 Methinks Richard doth protest too much You secretly love tuna don't you! Now theres a thought - a secret tuna addict. not true I'm afraid - unless tuna is the stuff that comes in bottles with Cabernet Sauvignon on the label! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Richard have you been drinking again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Just the Cab Sav again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHARLIE Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 i'm with richard on this one! it's just weird to give things that swim to chickens! the only animals our chickens eat are the ones they catch themselves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 i'm with richard on this one! it's just weird to give things that swim to chickens! the only animals our chickens eat are the ones they catch themselves! Yep - mine are the same. Well, nearly. I do have to admit to having sneaked the odd snail into the run that I have caught on my vegetables, so that Georgie can have a snack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
