Before repurposing feather pillows, wash them. Make sure the seams are solid. Throw them in the washer on warm water with a little mild detergent and let them wash. Dry them in the dryer with some clean tennis shoes. You will have to take them out every so often to fluff them up. It does take some time to dry them. In the summer time and nice weather, I will hang them on the line and fluff them up every once in a while. Don't be shocked, you know, chickens and geese get wet and do just fine.