If you’ve ever seen your chickens looking a bit rough—sporting more “hedgehog chic” than their usual fluff—you’ve witnessed the wonders of pin feathers Think of pin feathers as your birds’ awkward teen phase: pointy, sensitive, and best approached with plenty of patience and zero judgment

What Are Pin Feathers?

Pin feathers are the new growths that sprout when a chicken molts, prepping for a wardrobe upgrade Each feather starts as a shaft covered in a waxy keratin sheath, resembling little pins poking out from your bird’s body Beneath that sheath is a tender blood supply, giving these fresh feathers a bit