Feather meal

Feather meal or Feather powder, is a byproduct of processing poultry; it is made from poultry feathers by partially grinding them under elevated heat and pressure, and then grinding and drying. Although total nitrogen levels are fairly high (up to 12%), the bioavailability of this nitrogen may be low if not hydrolyzed beforehand. Feather meal is used in formulated animal feed and in organic fertilizer.

Worldwide, approximately 50 billion chickens were used for human consumption in 2014. The feather from poultry slaughtering is traditionally treated as waste, with carbon emissions associated with its disposal. Reusing feather meal produces extra value while reducing carbon emissions.