The Many Uses for Chicken/Poultry Feathers

[@heavymechanic2]

After processing Meat Chickens, I used wood shavings from the hen house, feathers and offal in one of those plastic composters (to prevent animals from digging). 7 gals of waste was added and the feathers in layers an inch deep, two days later it was cooking at 130 in freezing weather. It amazed me that the 80-gal container has reduced in size and now has a foot of head space in only two weeks.. Research led me into the composting process after butchering. Have you guys discussed this type of composting for hobby farms? You guys have reliable and interesting content.

[@bbthomas4807]

Who would've thought that we could learn about ancient Greek/Roman war tactics here on the Hobby Farm Guys channel?? Not me!

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

When our interests collide...we take full advantage of it!

[@bbthomas4807]

Thank you gentlemen!!! Your video is awesome! You have done a tremendous amount of research! I was hoping to hear how I could just wash them and stuff them in a pillow. Oh well! Not going to raise geese just for their down, so retail it is. SO much feather info! FANTASTIC JOB GUYS!!! ALL THREE OF Y'ALL ROCK!!

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

You can just wash them & stuff them...but there are better options. Thanks for the continued support!

[@meaningfulmakings]

Super cool and informative video. Thank you so much.

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mysparky2011]

Very interesting. Thanks

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@alaskacosplay]

When it comes to chicken feathers, especially tail feathers, I would soak them in hot water to clean them and use them for millinery as decorations on hats. A historical use of feathers were for corsets. Whalebone or baleen was getting expensive and some people sought a more inexpensive alternative so goose feathers, chicken feathers, and turkey feathers would have been stripped and bound to create what was called "feather bone" and it was flexible when molded with heat as it was made of keratin just like baleen and our fingernails. The term feather bone is still used today but on synthetic versions since it contains the same properties and characteristics that of original feather bone.

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Thanks for sharing. That was awesome!

[@sheliadean9548]

Thank you for sharing this information with us

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Our pleasure! Thank you for watching!

[@phyynix2709]

Thanks i really needed that for my presentation for scool!

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Glad we could help!

[@soilgardengro6942]

Thank you for your sharing

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@Crimetheoriespod]

Thank you! I want to use all of the chicken ❤

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Hope you enjoy!

[@Vitlaus]

🙏🏻 excellent timing, excellent 😈

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Thank you!

[@marypatbarnett-lewis5287]

My Grandmother in the 1930's made a full sized comforter from chicken feathers. She cleaned and sanitized them somehow. The resulting comforter was very warm but it was super heavy, So it wasn't that great to use.

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

No reason you can't use them for pillows, coats and comforters...but there are better options.

[@benruegge9100]

So you say manor will help break them down faster in a compost? I wonder if dog poop would work trying to find another good way to use instead of just hosing it into the yard to fertilize the grass

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Tossing it on the compost pile is the best thing you can do with dog poop. It will work well.

[@bbthomas4807]

@@HobbyFarmGuys that really surprised me to read. I have always heard it is bad as a fertilizer. I have 9 big dogs so this info gives me hope for ALL those huge piles of........

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Dog poop directly on plants is not so good, but mixed into the compost pile it is fine.

[@johndajay8850]

can u use a feather to be an cold resistant jacket?

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

Cleaned feathers have been used as filling for coats and quilts in the past. They may not be the best option, but if you are trying to be a resourceful as possible it can be done.

[@cottoneyedarren]

Yeah that’s what I do is just compost my feathers. I do use some for crafts

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

We do too!

[@benruegge9100]

They make great compost might have to break them up a little bit run him through a shredder

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

It helps!

[@heavymechanic2]

I was wondering about processing large feathers in a wood chipper with some corn stalks. Normally a shovel them on a compost heap and pile wood shavings from poultry pens on top with grass clippings.

[@CFarnwide]

My girls are lucky I don’t fly fish anymore… 😉

[@HobbyFarmGuys]

😂

[@bbthomas4807]

Oh heck! What's a feather or two amongst family!😉

[@CFarnwide]

@@bbthomas4807 one of them has some beautiful grizzly hackles. I’ve thought about sneaking out at night and plucking one or two 😉