What do you do with feathers?

[FrankHomestead]

What do YOU do with the feathers of a dispatched bird?!

 

[Abriana]

Feathers are almost completely protein. I don't raise meat birds, but I've read about it, and many people just throw them in the coop for the laying hens to eat. You will often see hens eating the fluffy feathers without the hard shafts, and one of the reasons some hens pull out the other hens' feathers is because they need more protein (totally off topic, but cat food is a great source of protein!).

 

[FrankHomestead]

Feathers are almost completely protein. I don't raise meat birds, but I've read about it, and many people just throw them in the coop for the laying hens to eat. You will often see hens eating the fluffy feathers without the hard shafts, and one of the reasons some hens pull out the other hens' feathers is because they need more protein (totally off topic, but cat food is a great source of protein!).

Wow! Never seen any of my girls eating feathers. And I didn't realize they were all protein! Can you suggest any other ideas to utilize this source of protein?

 

[Abriana]

Wow! Never seen any of my girls eating feathers. And I didn't realize they were all protein! Can you suggest any other ideas to utilize this source of protein?

I would suggest during molts to collect the feathers and spread them in the coop from time to time so that they can eat them. I don't really think too much about how to use them as protein, because they naturally come out of chickens and usually they get all they need, but it would be a good idea to have some on hand.

 

[aart]

but cat food is a great source of protein!

It is, but...it's also got a lot of fat and salt, not so good for chooks...better to buy some canned fish packed in water.

Pigs can eat feathers?
Do you have to grind them up first?
I would think the bigger feather shaft might cause harm?

I toss mine in the woods with the guts and blood,
but I don't butcher many birds,
5-10 layer stock per year (extra cockerels and old hens),
and don't have a decent compost.

 

[FrankHomestead]

It is, but...it's also got a lot of fat and salt, not so good for chooks...better to buy some canned fish packed in water.

Pigs can eat feathers?
Do you have to grind them up first?
I would think the bigger feather shaft might cause harm?

I toss mine in the woods with the guts and blood,
but I don't butcher many birds,
5-10 layer stock per year (extra cockerels and old hens),
and don't have a decent compost.

I've read some blogs about ppl feeding the feathers to the pigs! thought it was interesting. not sure about the hard part...I'd read into it more before feeding it to my pigs lol