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What to do with the feathers once plucked?

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post #1 of 8

4/21/12 at 6:41am

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Razor1616

Joined: 2/2012
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I have been looking around on the internet to find a good solution. I really hate the idea of throwing things away, but I cannot find any other answers. Once you pluck the feathers from your birds processing them, is there another option other than putting them in the trash? Can you put them in "long term compost" (the compost pile for things that i don't want to throw away but don't want in my garden anytime soon, like 3 or 4 years)?

Thank you,
Nathan

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post #2 of 8

4/21/12 at 8:37am

ChickenJerk

Joined: 1/2012
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"long term composting" works, very well.

post #3 of 8

4/21/12 at 8:41am

Birde

Joined: 4/2012
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See how long it takes to collect enough to stuff a pillow

I don't know what to do with mine either. I save the pretty ones

post #4 of 8

4/21/12 at 10:06am

Oregon Blues

Location: Central Oregon
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They compost just fine. Also lots of people use feathers for crafts.

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post #5 of 8

4/23/12 at 7:20pm

Beekissed

Location: WV.
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This year I'm saving and washing mine to use in pillows. Fifty young CX with clean and soft feathers? I'm not going to waste that...their feathers have very little, if any, bad smells...this I noticed when scalding and didn't smell the typical wet chicken smell that is so offensive to the nose.

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post #6 of 8

4/23/12 at 8:15pm

BackyardCoop

Joined: 4/2012
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Compost.

But once I figured out how to just skin a chicken, I don't mess with plucking!

I dream of a day where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned

Me and my Hubby, 2 dogs, 1 French Cuckoo Maran, 1 Barred Rock, 5 RIR's, 1 Easter Egger, 2 Leghorns, 1 Araucana, 2 Mottled Cochins, 2 Cochin Cross, 1 Frizzle, 1 Phoenix, and 1 question mark.

I dream of a day where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned

Me and my Hubby, 2 dogs, 1 French Cuckoo Maran, 1 Barred Rock, 5 RIR's, 1 Easter Egger, 2 Leghorns, 1 Araucana, 2 Mottled Cochins, 2 Cochin Cross, 1 Frizzle, 1 Phoenix, and 1 question mark.

post #7 of 8

4/23/12 at 8:17pm