Birds shed and moult their feathers naturally. At times, there will be many feathers, you might think you bird is going to go bald. Don't worry, it is all natural and normal. But do not throw those feathers away! Not only will you be able to use them for crafts, but there are people that will pay you for them if they are in nice shape and shipped correctly.

At Christmas and other Holiday times a crafter can make a variety, unending variety, of ornaments, crafts and decor ideas. If you do an Internet search for ideas and patterns that your goose's feathers can become. One thing to think about is having those feathers from your goose for, basically, ever.

How much are the feathers worth? Well they are usually sold by the ounce, white feathers usually sell better then others for the fact they can be dyed. What the feathers are worth depend on so many factors. First of all what condition they are in. Also the colors, the size, and the biggest factor, what the "craft of the day" is.

I have outdoor geese, ducks, guineas and chickens. Now and again I go outside with a ziplock bag and just start filling it. I do try to keep feather sizes separate in different ziplocks. Since you can not know, not even if you only have one goose/bird inside your home, if it has parasites or not without a microscope, seal your baggie full of feathers and set them in the freezer for 24 hours. Then take them out, open the bag so that it is very opened, and let them set for another 24 hours. You let the bag set open after taking it out of the freezer so that if there was any moisture inside the bag that froze it can thaw and escape.

If you are going to dye the color of your feathers you may do this anytime after the 2 days of prep. If you are using hot water with the die it is still a good idea to freezer the feathers first for 24 hours.

If you are really cleaver and crafty, you can learn to curl your feathers, as seen in this photo, and sell them to others for crafts, or handcraft items yourself. Many, many brides love to wear white feathers on their wedding days.

You can make Christmas Tree Ornaments several different ways with your goose's feathers. The ornament will be something you will own forever, long after your bird is gone. You can even color code your different geese's feathers by using different color bows or bead on or with the feathers. I just want to know? How do you know, unless owned at a different time in history, or different color bird, do you tell the feathers apart?

You could spend a day doing Internet Searches and finding ideas of how to make items and crafts do with your many feathers. Some of the crafts children could help with, or make on their own. I have seen step by step instructions with photos of how to make all sorts of things from earrings to Quills.

You might offer your feathers to your Church for the kids to do crafts with, adding print outs of ideas you have found on an Internet Search. Craft clubs love for new people to join and bring in new craft ideas. You could simply make cards using your feathers on the front cover.

Ideas are endless of what you could do with your feathers. One thing you do not want to do is leave the feathers lay in the barn for mice to pick up and use to make really nice comfy nest out of the multiply in. Make no mistake, I like pet mice. I train and dress pet mice, I even have a mouse website. But I do not want wild mice in my barn or home.

The song "Go Tell Aunt Rhoda" was probably a true story. People really did used to save feathers to stuff beds and pillows. Just think how many feathers that took! But then, if you have a flock of birds, the feathers do "pile up" and you might even be surprised how many feathers come from one goose per year.

This photo is of a modern day "down filled bed top" filled with feathers.

If you come up with, or even copy, a feather craft and sell what you have made, the money you make might pay for your gooses food and diapers. If you find the right market and add a craft made from your goose egg shells, you might, good change you will be able to pay a bill or to. Think of the fun you will have creating your crafts and the pride you will have when people "fuss" over them and purchase them. Don't start plucking your birds though
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-- The House Goose Team
Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:44:59 -0500