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The poultry feathers have a very high protein content due to it consists of 90% of crude protein, and it is an ideal material to obtain keratin protein. Due to Keratin's difficulties and time-consuming decomposition, further processing is needed to degrade Keratin into simpler proteins that can be used as an alternative N-source. This study was aimed to evaluate the keratin hydrolysate from poultry feathers prepared by acidic (HCl) and alkaline (NaOH) compound utilization and its potency as the substrate medium for growth keratinolytic bacteria at a laboratory scale. Poultry feathers, including Kampung (Local breed) chicken feathers, layer chicken feathers, and local goose treat with HCL 12% and NaOH 20%. The results of the hydrolyzate of poultry feathers using 12% HCl showed no significant changes. Visually, the feathers of birds that have been treated with 12% HCl show a color change to brownish-yellow. The results of hydrolysis using NaOH showed better results than HCl for producing feather meals. The highest yield has occurred at Local goose feathers at 95.7%, followed by Kampung and Layer chicken feathers at 93.17% and 78,75%. Based on the viability test, three indigenous strains (Bacillus cereus TD5B, Bacillus cereus LS2B and Pseudomonas sp. PK4) grew in a medium with a substrate of  Kampung chicken feathers, layer chickens, and Local goose feathers. It can be concluded that the hydrolysed poultry feathers made by NaOH 20% preparation had a potency as N-source in the bacterial growth medium.

Chemicals preparation, feather meal, hydrolysate, indigenous bacteria