How to collect feathers from quail brooder?

[potatoyay]

I’d like to collect their shedded feathers for projects since it’s also down and very soft. But it’s always mixed with the dropping and the only way to get it out seems to be picking it up which is time consuming and unpractical. What are some easier ways to collect the feathers? Sorry; random question!!

 

[Nabiki]

If I collect them, I usually get them when I butcher, but you might try taking a mesh screen or something and putting the whole mess on it and spraying it with water until the poop is gone. You want to wash the feathers anyway. After they're washed and dried you want to put them in the freezer for a week, take them out, let them thaw, then repeat the process. This makes sure that any possible parasites are dead.

 

[potatoyay]

If I collect them, I usually get them when I butcher, but you might try taking a mesh screen or something and putting the whole mess on it and spraying it with water until the poop is gone. You want to wash the feathers anyway. After they're washed and dried you want to put them in the freezer for a week, take them out, let them thaw, then repeat the process. This makes sure that any possible parasites are dead.

the poop isn't attached with the feathers more so mixed in with them. like to get the feathers out i have to pick them out of the poop when i clean. if that makes sense?

 

[Nabiki]

the poop isn't attached with the feathers more so mixed in with them. like to get the feathers out i have to pick them out of the poop when i clean. if that makes sense?

I understand. I was still thinking that using a mesh and water might be a faster way to get a lot of the feathers. That's the only alternative I can think of aside from picking them out of the poop.

 

[potatoyay]

I understand. I was still thinking that using a mesh and water might be a faster way to get a lot of the feathers. That's the only alternative I can think of aside from picking them out of the poop.

okay, i'll try that sometime if i can find some mesh. thanks

 

[Nabiki]

okay, i'll try that sometime if i can find some mesh. thanks

You can probably find old screen doors or old window screens for free on craigslist.

 

[Charlie Wooster]

It’s called winnowing... Fan them.. a piece of cardboard produces a lot of wind very easily.. like removing the chaff from grain..