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Home > Archive > UK gardening > September 2006 > Adding feathers to the compost heap?
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Adding feathers to the compost heap?
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| Cat(h) 2006-09-29, 9:25 am |
| OK, this may sound awfully weird, but here it goes.
I have just "retired" a couple of feather pillows, and was wondering
how to dispose of them in the best possible way. Then, it struck me
that, maybe, it would be OK to add the filling - a mix of small
feathers - to the compost heap, and take the washed covers to my bring
centre to recycle the textile.
What do people think about composting feathers?
TIA
Cat(h)
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| Des Higgins 2006-09-29, 9:25 am |
| I have heard of people composting human hair (from a neighbouring
hairdressers) and if that composts, my guess is that feathers would too
(both made mainly from the protein keratin). The only objection I can think
of would be if the feathers were treated somehow but then that would also be
an objection to sticking them in a pillow, 3mm from my face.
"Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1159523997.671160.195780@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> OK, this may sound awfully weird, but here it goes.
> I have just "retired" a couple of feather pillows, and was wondering
> how to dispose of them in the best possible way. Then, it struck me
> that, maybe, it would be OK to add the filling - a mix of small
> feathers - to the compost heap, and take the washed covers to my bring
> centre to recycle the textile.
> What do people think about composting feathers?
>
p.s. sorry for top posting; have you been to the Ploughing Championships
this year?
> TIA
> Cat(h)
>
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| Nick Maclaren 2006-09-29, 9:25 am |
|
In article <1159523997.671160.195780@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
"Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> writes:
|> OK, this may sound awfully weird, but here it goes.
|> I have just "retired" a couple of feather pillows, and was wondering
|> how to dispose of them in the best possible way. Then, it struck me
|> that, maybe, it would be OK to add the filling - a mix of small
|> feathers - to the compost heap, and take the washed covers to my bring
|> centre to recycle the textile.
|> What do people think about composting feathers?
If it is a natural fibre cover just put the whole pillow on and water
it well. I did that with an old duvet.
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.
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| Cat(h) 2006-09-29, 9:25 am |
|
Des Higgins wrote:
> I have heard of people composting human hair (from a neighbouring
> hairdressers) and if that composts, my guess is that feathers would too
> (both made mainly from the protein keratin). The only objection I can think
> of would be if the feathers were treated somehow but then that would also be
> an objection to sticking them in a pillow, 3mm from my face.
>
> "Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1159523997.671160.195780@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> p.s. sorry for top posting; have you been to the Ploughing Championships
> this year?
>
Yes, Wed, and am back for more muck and magic tomorrow. Case of having
to :-)
Cat(h)
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| Cat(h) 2006-09-29, 9:25 am |
|
Nick Maclaren wrote:
> In article <1159523997.671160.195780@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
> "Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> writes:
> |> OK, this may sound awfully weird, but here it goes.
> |> I have just "retired" a couple of feather pillows, and was wondering
> |> how to dispose of them in the best possible way. Then, it struck me
> |> that, maybe, it would be OK to add the filling - a mix of small
> |> feathers - to the compost heap, and take the washed covers to my bring
> |> centre to recycle the textile.
> |> What do people think about composting feathers?
>
> If it is a natural fibre cover just put the whole pillow on and water
> it well. I did that with an old duvet.
I don't think it is - I'll check the labels, if they are still legible,
but it doesn't *feel* like pure cotton.
Thanks to you and Des for the advice, my old pillows now have a new
purpose in life :-)
Cat(h)
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| Mary Fisher 2006-09-29, 9:25 am |
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"Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1159523997.671160.195780@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> OK, this may sound awfully weird, but here it goes.
> I have just "retired" a couple of feather pillows, and was wondering
> how to dispose of them in the best possible way. Then, it struck me
> that, maybe, it would be OK to add the filling - a mix of small
> feathers - to the compost heap, and take the washed covers to my bring
> centre to recycle the textile.
> What do people think about composting feathers?
>
> TIA
> Cat(h)
Ive done it for exactly the same reason.
I also put yard sweepings on the compost heap, that includes bird deposits
of all kinds, including sometimes quite big feathers from the poultry.
I keep the covers if they're sound because good cotton ticking is worth
re-using. It's surprising, however, how many small holes manifest themselves
during laundering. Pillows are subject to a lot of wear and sweat :-(
Mary
>
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| Janet Baraclough 2006-09-29, 9:25 am |
| The message <1159523997.671160.195780@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>
from "Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> contains these words:
> OK, this may sound awfully weird, but here it goes.
> I have just "retired" a couple of feather pillows, and was wondering
> how to dispose of them in the best possible way. Then, it struck me
> that, maybe, it would be OK to add the filling - a mix of small
> feathers - to the compost heap, and take the washed covers to my bring
> centre to recycle the textile.
> What do people think about composting feathers?
Swunnerful.
Urg is currently discussing exactly that in the thread called "double
digging".
Janet.
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| On 29/9/06 10:59, in article
1159523997.671160.195780@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "Cat(h)"
<cathy_ie@yahoo.com> wrote:
> OK, this may sound awfully weird, but here it goes.
> I have just "retired" a couple of feather pillows, and was wondering
> how to dispose of them in the best possible way. Then, it struck me
> that, maybe, it would be OK to add the filling - a mix of small
> feathers - to the compost heap, and take the washed covers to my bring
> centre to recycle the textile.
> What do people think about composting feathers?
>
See 'double digging' thread! ;-) But you could always put them into those
netting bags bird peanuts come in and then hang them up in spring. The
birds will probably grab them for nest making.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
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| Cat(h) 2006-09-29, 9:25 am |
|
Sacha wrote:
> On 29/9/06 10:59, in article
> 1159523997.671160.195780@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "Cat(h)"
> <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> See 'double digging' thread! ;-)
So I see! :-)
But you could always put them into those
> netting bags bird peanuts come in and then hang them up in spring. The
> birds will probably grab them for nest making.
Hmm. I think I'll pass on that - chucking the feathers into the
compost heap is less messy and more immediate :-)
Cat(h)
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| "Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> OK, this may sound awfully weird, but here it goes.
> I have just "retired" a couple of feather pillows, and was wondering
> how to dispose of them in the best possible way. Then, it struck me
> that, maybe, it would be OK to add the filling - a mix of small
> feathers - to the compost heap, and take the washed covers to my
bring
> centre to recycle the textile.
> What do people think about composting feathers?
I compost any chooks that dies of natural causes and all that is left
in the end is the keel bone. You'll have no trouble with feathers.
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| "Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> Nick Maclaren wrote:
water[color=darkred]
>
> I don't think it is - I'll check the labels, if they are still
legible,
> but it doesn't *feel* like pure cotton.
If they were quality pillows to begin with then they should be made
out of a fabric called japara which should be a very, very closely
woven cotton. When new it would have had a sheen to it a bit like a
good chintz.
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| Janet Tweedy 2006-09-30, 3:25 am |
| In article <C142C7E7.3A396%sacha@privacy.net>, Sacha <sacha@privacy.net>
writes
>See 'double digging' thread! ;-) But you could always put them into those
>netting bags bird peanuts come in and then hang them up in spring. The
>birds will probably grab them for nest making.
I do that in the spring with the fluff from the tumble dryer. If drying
the Vet beds (sort of artificial fleece) then there's also dog hairs in
it and it appears to be prized by a variety of birds.
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk
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