Different feather degrading bacteria were isolated from soil using an enrichment technique with feather as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. A strain with high keratinolytic activity was identified as Bacillus pumilus FH9 using sequencing of the 16SrDNA gene. Phylogenic analysis showed that the strain was most similar to B. pumilus AF526896 and AF526898. Complete feather degradation was achieved at pH 8, inoculum size 2%, agitation rate 200 rpm, and incubation temperature 37 degrees C, incubation period for 48 h which represents the late log phase. Maximum feather degrading activity attained at the optimal conditions was (647 U/ml). Some properties of the crude B. pumilus keratinase were also investigated. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.