When most people think about the useful products produced by chickens, feathers do not typically come to mind. In fact, in most cases, feathers are considered the most wasted by-product of chickens. However, there are many uses for chicken feathers that include several costume items: Feather boas Earrings Masks Floral arrangements Chicken Feathers It is estimated that 2-3 billion feathers from chickens are produced each year. Each feather contains keratin, which is also found in hair, wool, horns, and hoofs. This opens up a number of other possibilities that chicken feathers could be used for such as: Diapers Pillows and Upholstery Stuffing Insulation Paper and Plastics The structure of chicken feathers allows it to absorb a large amount of moisture and makes it naturally stable and durable. There are many ideas in the works for the uses of chicken feathers. They can be heated and mixed in with other materials to make plastic and some companies have experimented