Processing feathers?

[AntiqueB]

I'm curious: has anyone ever used their poultry feathers for anything? I see so many molted feathers and down, and wonder if it's possible to clean them and use them for anything. I imagine that people who process their birds would have even more! Does everyone just throw them away?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

As far as butchered bird feathers, those get thrown in a compost pile.

As far as others.... I sometimes just collect the molted feathers. My sister made me a necklace out of one of my feathers once. Strange and cool art projects are always fun to do with feathers, such as, this car I covered with feathers from my molting geese:

I think I'll follow this thread because I'm interested in what other people do as well.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Ive seen people make ornaments with them i use them as mouse bedding lol

 

[AntiqueB]

Ive seen people make ornaments with them i use them as mouse bedding lol

That's an interesting use! I left a lot of the feathers in the coop, hoping they'd keep the girls warm.

 

[Sally PB]

Ornaments! Each of my birds could "make" an ornament for my Christmas tree! Why didn't I think of that about 3 months ago?

 

[BlueBaby]

How about some idea's like this?

https://foter.com/feather-lamp-shades

 

[AntiqueB]

Makes me wish I had frizzles!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I grab a few handfuls of the nice, clean, undamaged feathers from butcher birds (breast, hackle and saddle feathers usually) for crafts. I don't bother with molted feathers since they're usually torn or dirtied

 

[swamphiker]

They make great cat toys! Tie a bundle together on a piece of fishing line or at the end of a stick; my two kitties love it.

 

[MrsEarthern]

I use shed feathers to make decorations and dusters, my husband has a friend who makes lures; so I am interested in learning to skin and preserve the saddles.