Claws are by far the best way to get Feathers, you use them more and lose fewer HP. Save the Elemental Seeds (Wind, Fire, etc) for upgrading your Saddle. When you get claws like the "Flame" "Dwarf" and so forth, even if they are cursed or already +1 or something...un-curse them if you have to, and use a polish card(s) to get them at *least* to +1. Then use them until they break...more often than not you will get a Feather related to the effects of the Claws (Chaos will give you confusion, etc). Use this to help the Golems freshen up the tree in the Village since you can get feathers you lose over again easily.