i can definitely think of a danger with using feathers instead of rice.
when my little boy, opie, was just a kit we had a fishing pole cat toy that
had feathers on it, well sure enough those feathers came off and he almost
swallowed one.  i say almost because it was caught right in his throat.  i
had to put him in a sleeper hold (scruff him) to get it out.
 
holly
[Posted in FML issue 2881]