Is anyone using their feathers?

[flitter]

I wondered if anyone uses their chicken's feathers? Do you gather them up or pluck them out? Would plucking mess up their molt cycle? I just collect them from the ground and display in a wooden bowl.
Our ancestors used them for pillows, etc. DH says they killed the birds to do that? Just wondering and didn't get anything when I searched.

 

[dmccann]

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

The masks are AWESOME!!! And regarding the wreath...how did you attach them and what did you attach them to? I wanted to do something similar but couldnt quite figure it out so I just did this instead. (so instructions please!)

 

[dmccann]

I just made this one for my dil.

 

[dmccann]

My last one

 

[dmccann]

Here r some earings i just made.

 

[NovaAman]

My kid collects the ones that fall out and plays with them. I don't think I'd pluck it out of a live chicken. I think that would hurt the chicken.

 

[SilkieGirl]

I use my birds feathers for craft projects and jewelry. I never pluck them as each feather is connected to the bird by its skin and pulling them out will cause the bird to bleed (neighbors kid tried to start plucking my sebastopol gander). It is best if you want to not process the bird to let them molt out naturally. Yes most birds when mass producing feathers are killed. but if you dont need tons you dont need to do that.

 

[dmccann]

when ever i find one ,i save it i also buy them from others.Just made a wreath!!

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Only blood feathers will bleed..they only have blood in them when growing in. it like pull one of your hairs out , one at a time , doesn't hurt them,only if its a blood feather..easy to tell them apart ,you can see the blood in them.