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Post by starlingqueen on Oct 5, 2017 20:56:43 GMT
I had Toby sitting next to me for 10 minutes, scratching his head and this is the dust that came off him onto my cardigan.  |
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Post by helenmat on Oct 5, 2017 21:16:29 GMT
He probably feels a lot lighter having got rid of all that!  |
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Post by starlingqueen on Oct 6, 2017 0:12:12 GMT
He probably feels a lot lighter having got rid of all that! He has plenty more. His feathers are always covered in fine dust. Budgies have it too but to a lesser extent. |
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Post by Hezz on Oct 6, 2017 1:00:21 GMT
Cockatoos, as well. They have a powder on their feathers.
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Post by jellybean on Oct 6, 2017 7:24:57 GMT
Wow!!!
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Post by OP on Oct 6, 2017 7:25:20 GMT
Would that be the same as dander.?
There is always a fine dust consisting of very fine hairs in the air. Even without our friendly birds. We only see it once it has settled on a surface or a shaft of light shines through it. Could it be that the dust is that what has settled on the birds added to it by their own contribution.
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Post by helenmat on Oct 6, 2017 7:32:18 GMT
Definition: Dander is an informal term for a material shed from the body of various animals, including humans, which have fur, hair, or feathers. The term is similar to dandruff, when an excess of flakes becomes visible.
This is what makes me sneeze if I don't keep cleaning it up! My mum gets really cross and is always cleaning the dust up from my dads parrot. Ha ha
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Post by starlingqueen on Oct 6, 2017 7:56:36 GMT
I took this from Winged Wisdom, a pet bird magazine.
The Powder Down Birds have an additional type of feather. Powder down feathers are small specialized feathers that shed a very fine, white, waxy powder composed of keratin. Powder down forms a waterproof barrier for contour feathers and is spread through the feathers when the bird grooms. Cockatiels, Cockatoos and African Greys, produce the greatest amount of powder on their feathers. If one strokes a powder down bird, it will feel very silky and soft. And when done, there will often be a coating of fine white powder on the hand. As mentioned above, powder down can cause irritation to people with respiratory problems and allergies.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator 
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,843 
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Oct 6, 2017 14:30:38 GMT
Budgie dander and droppings can also cause problems with respiratory problems as they do for me. Luckily I am managing it with medication. Good job I don't have an African Grey!  |
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Post by Hezz on Oct 7, 2017 1:17:15 GMT
Would that be the same as dander.? There is always a fine dust consisting of very fine hairs in the air. Even without our friendly birds. We only see it once it has settled on a surface or a shaft of light shines through it. Could it be that the dust is that what has settled on the birds added to it by their own contribution. SQ has already answered this with her quote, but just wanted to iterate that no, it is not dander; it is part of their feather-health. Here is a little bit more information regarding feather powder, from www.beautyofbirds.com/birdoilgland.html"Some bird species- those that are less likely to bathe or immerse themselves in water - produce feather dust instead of oil glands. They have powder down feathers that shed a very fine, white, waxy powder composed of keratin that is spread through the feathers when the bird preens itself. This "dust" fulfills the same function of the oil glands, as it forms a waterproof barrier for contour feathers. Those species that produce the greatest amount of feather powder are Cockatiels, Cockatoos and African Greys." |
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