The Poultry Keeper The Independent Forum for Poultry Keepers    FAQ   Search     Register   Log in  feather eating???          The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Feeding and Housing Author Message Sue B Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 383 Location: Lincolnshire Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:07 pm    Post subject: feather eating??? My new big gorgeous fluffy Light Sussex love eating feathers they don't pluck them just ones they find but since one of my other hens is in the moult that's a lot of feathers!. I'm sure their not hungry. They have layers pellets and free range on grass. Should I be concerned My other hens (ex battery)hardly ever eat feathers. Back to top Deb_Moderator Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661 Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:53 pm    Post subject: Some times feather eating can be due to a lack of something in their diet. Try adding a vitamin supplement to their water for a week, followed with a week of ACV...that might help reduce the problem. Last edited by Deb_Moderator on Sun Jan 01, 2006 6:24 am; edited 1 time in total Back to top Knobby Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 6707 Location: North Warwickshire Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:40 am    Post subject: How old is the chook that is eating the feathers ? Back to top Sue B Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 383 Location: Lincolnshire Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:23 am    Post subject: Both my Light Sussex do it. Their just young around twenty four weeks or so. Where do I get ACV I take it you don't mean the ordinary cooking type? P.s Nice to see Santa's got time to visit this site it must be a busy time of year for you Back to top Knobby Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 6707 Location: North Warwickshire Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:24 am    Post subject: My Orps went thru a phase of feather eating when they were younger, about 15-20 weeks old.....it only lasted a week or two tho'..... How long has it been going on ?? Ho Ho Ho Back to top Sue B Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 383 Location: Lincolnshire Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:29 am    Post subject: That was quick Its gone on since I got them around four weeks ago. Back to top CP Moderator Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 16285 Location: Hampshire Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:37 am    Post subject: You CAN use the cooking type if you can't find anything else, but the one with 'bits' in is best. You can get it from feed merchants - the one they sell for horses is ideal. Back to top 1 Chicken Smuggler Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178 Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:58 pm    Post subject: Eating feathers is from the lack of protein in the diet. In the meantime, you might give them a protein boost: a can of cheap skip jack tuna, meat scraps, meal worms, scrambled eggs etc.I see you all can`t feed animal by-products and the such,but the things mentioned here will definitely help.What is with that law any way? Chickens eat mice and bugs and anything else they can catch ,that is dirtier than canned fish or some cooked liver.---so what is wrong with Canned fish?Sorry I don`t understand what your laws are for or why they exist Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Feeding and Housing All times are GMT + 1 Hour Page 1 of 1 Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group