Valorisation of chicken feathers: Characterisation of physical properties and morphological structure

The physical properties and morphological structure of chicken feathers were examined in order to identify possible avenues for the valorisation of waste chicken feathers. The physical properties ascertained were fibre length, fineness, diameter, colour, ash content, moisture content, moisture regain, density, aspect ratio and dimensional measurement. The morphologies of the whole feather and its fractions (barb and rachis) were characterised by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that a chicken feather has unique features. The barb, unlike any other natural or synthetic fibre, is a protein fibre that has low density, high flexibility, good spinning length and a hollow honeycomb structure. The rachis has low density, low rigidity, and a hollow honeycomb structure. These characteristics indicate that chicken feather barbs can be utilised to manufacture textile products either on their own or by structural interaction with other fibres. The characteristics of both the barb and the rachis, make them suitable for the manufacture of composite materials. These results illustrate the possibilities of chicken feathers as a valuable raw material. The collection and processing of the chicken feathers from poultry can be a new source of employment and provide income generation opportunities.