Down feathers from pillow for nesting box?

[littlecoopnextdoor]

This is random but I have a couple of old down pillows that are well past their prime (by...a good decade). Wondering if anyone has experience putting the down in the bottom of their coop or in the nesting box? I plan on using deep bedding.

Thanks!

 

[saysfaa]

I tried something similar. The problem is the chicks poop. A lot. And down from feathers blows all over if it is loose. If it is contained, it has no advantage over wool.

I ended up with a wool hen (box with strips of wool hanging down to about the level of their bellies when standing and/or backs when sleeping.

That worked very well.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I tried something similar. The problem is the chicks poop. A lot. And down from feathers blows all over if it is loose. If it is contained, it has no advantage over wool.

I ended up with a wool hen (box with strips of wool hanging down to about the level of their bellies when standing and/or backs when sleeping.

That worked very well.

what is the reason for having the 'wool hen'? I am just curious as I have to put this down somewhere and would rather not put in landfill. So even if in next box you think they'd poop on the down? thanks

 

[saysfaa]

I misread it ... was thinking brooder box rather than nest box. My apologies.

I don't know about feathers in nest boxes.

I like to mix their own feathers from molting or whatever into the bedding, I think it helps to have lots of kinds of bedding.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My birds will naturally drag shed feathers into the nest box so using some down mixed in with other materials in the nest boxes is probably fine. However it will stick to wet bloom on eggs.

 

[aart]

However it will stick to wet bloom on eggs.

That was my first thought.
Plus they wouldn't offer much cushion.

If you don't want to toss them into the landfill, add them to your compost.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you don't want to toss them into the landfill, add them to your compost.

x2. During molt I clean up excess feathers in the coop and put them in my compost.

 

[3KillerBs]

I agree with the compost idea.

Old pillows are probably full of all sorts of gunk you wouldn't want stuck to your eggs.

 

[tigger19687]

1), there may be some kind of chemical they spray on the down.. so no for me.

2) hens will EAT feathers, more then they are young but they do.

3) they will get Everywhere, as others said wet stuck yuck.

4) WILD birds LOVE to come and steal the downy feathers my hens shed this year for their own nests. Sparrows and Chickadees.
Save it for the Spring and put them somewhere that the wild birds can get them- with out them flying everywhere LOL

 

[saysfaa]

If they are sprayed with chemicals, it is probably better not to put them in the compost or out for wild birds either.

Some down is treated to make it more water resistant. The down in things like sleeping bags for winter camping sometimes is. And possibly the down in coats. I don't think the down in pillows meant for beds in people's houses is.