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Roostorf
Farming Fisherman


Registered: 11/22/16
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Feathers as nitrogen source
#23995596 - 01/09/17 03:52 PM (7 years, 21 days ago) |
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Been plucking chickens all morning and wondering if i can use the feathers as a nitrogen supplement with straw for growing oyster or lions mane. What would be a good ratio and would I have to sterilize it or could it be pasturized or even the anaerobic method? (Not sure what to call it but i remeber paul stamets mentioning you can submerge straw for two weeks and it will go anerobic and die when exposed to the air)
-------------------- Learning something new everyday Would love to trade medicinal and edible vultures and spores
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Forrester
aspiring sociopath


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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Roostorf]
#24005804 - 01/12/17 10:32 PM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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I was thinking of trying this myself, I got a lot of birds and a shit-ton of feathers lying around. I would just wash them really well and then pasteurize them along with the straw or whatever you're using.
I've never seen mold grow on a feather (must not have THAT much nitrogen), so I wouldn't imagine they need sterilized.
Now if you want a real supplement, use the chicken SHIT. Way more nitrogen, but of course it would need to be fully sterilized.
Feathers might turn out to be a nice supplement that can be pasteurized, give it a shot and let us know how it goes!
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here. ------------------- Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
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Stupendous-Yappi
Anomaly XB-311394


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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Forrester]
#24005995 - 01/13/17 12:21 AM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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As I understand it chicken feathers have a lot of keratin (protein). I've been collecting them for my compost substrates (for SRA), not sure how well mushrooms can directly benefit from it though.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Roostorf]
#24006005 - 01/13/17 12:30 AM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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I'm not sure about loose feathers, but when I was a produce farmer we used feather meal in our potting mix as a nitrogen source. I've read it's around 12% nitrogen by dry weight. For comparison wheat is around 2.5%.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Roostorf]
#24006013 - 01/13/17 12:35 AM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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And I've tried the anerobic thing before and it can work, but you end up just creating a smelly mess. That shit really smells foul. You definitely need to sterilize if you are adding nitrogen rich supplements. I've seen people get away with adding supplements with only pasteurization, but it's iffy at best.
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Quadman
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: MycoFlora]
#24006408 - 01/13/17 07:21 AM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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Quote:
MycoFlora said: I'm not sure about loose feathers, but when I was a produce farmer we used feather meal in our potting mix as a nitrogen source. I've read it's around 12% nitrogen by dry weight. For comparison wheat is around 2.5%.
Wheat grain is approx 12℅ protein . It can range from 9- 15℅ Rendered feather meal is approx 81% protein
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MycoFlora
Farmer


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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Quadman]
#24007055 - 01/13/17 12:32 PM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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I was referring to wheat bran, not grain. And I believe the OP was asking about nitrogen content.
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stevo


Registered: 04/11/05
Posts: 5,100
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source *DELETED* [Re: MycoFlora]
#24007422 - 01/13/17 02:48 PM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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Post deleted by stevo
Reason for deletion: .
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Quadman
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: stevo]
#24007596 - 01/13/17 03:45 PM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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Most people work off protein which is a calculation off nitrogen. Wheat bran is approx 15% protein. Feather meal would be considered super " hot", if it were all available, not sure how available it is. Sorry didn't mean to ruffle your feathers just adding to conversation.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Quadman]
#24007794 - 01/13/17 05:02 PM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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No ruffled feathers here my friend! I learn something new everyday. Suppose I'm used to calculating npk.
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Quadman
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: MycoFlora]
#24007896 - 01/13/17 05:51 PM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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Oh , if anyone does try raw feathers I think you would need to sterilize. That will help break them down, hydrolyzed is the term. Would have to research the process.
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Forrester
aspiring sociopath


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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Quadman]
#24007923 - 01/13/17 06:04 PM (7 years, 17 days ago) |
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Quote:
Quadman said: Oh , if anyone does try raw feathers I think you would need to sterilize. That will help break them down, hydrolyzed is the term. Would have to research the process.
Good point, but I also think, depending on species of course, mushrooms and fungus in general are kind of MADE to break down all sorts of substances. I mean, they can break down hard wood but not feathers? I doubt. I've even read on here about a fungus that was found to be able to actually decompose plastic, to some degree.
Just thinking out loud, I have no proof or evidence of whether or not the feathers would need to be sterilized (to fight contamination OR to help break down).
I think it's totally worth a try just throwing a bunch of feathers in with your straw before pasteurization. I always like to try the lazy way first, then if that fails, go with some harder methods. I've got a feeling oysters would chew right through whole feathers though, but who knows if they'd get the nitrogen quick enough for the first flush, or if it would come later and just lead to better 2nd, and 3rd+ flush results.
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here. ------------------- Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
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Mycolorado
Hobbyist


Registered: 07/23/16
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Loc: Interdimensional Bootcamp
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Forrester]
#24009232 - 01/14/17 09:14 AM (7 years, 16 days ago) |
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It just sounds messy to me but then again, I'm imagining a bunch of wet stinky feathers in a vat. The fungi we're working with are geared to break down plant based materials...mainly cellulose, not sure how efficient they would be at dealing with those from animal sources, especially keratin.
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Mycolorado
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Quadman]
#24009264 - 01/14/17 09:26 AM (7 years, 16 days ago) |
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Quote:
Quadman said: Sorry didn't mean to ruffle your feathers just adding to conversation.
Ha! This just sunk in...
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Quadman
Challenged


Registered: 04/23/16
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Mycolorado]
#24009291 - 01/14/17 09:38 AM (7 years, 16 days ago) |
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I know just couldn't help , pun intended.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: Quadman]
#24009411 - 01/14/17 10:24 AM (7 years, 16 days ago) |
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haha I cant believe I missed that. Holy cow that was a good one.
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Roostorf
Farming Fisherman


Registered: 11/22/16
Posts: 113
Loc: Humboldt
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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Re: Feathers as nitrogen source [Re: MycoFlora]
#24010184 - 01/14/17 04:11 PM (7 years, 16 days ago) |
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I have seen a few scources, even saying that you can pasturize the feathers, but i really need to figure out a bulk sterilization method, because it does sound like a stinky mess. I was able to get a truckload of 55gallon drums from the creamery the other day, maybe that will be my next project
-------------------- Learning something new everyday Would love to trade medicinal and edible vultures and spores
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