Picking up feathers, can it be done safely?

[spinnachie]

I used to pick up feathers as a kid, never washed them...they were so nice and soft I would sometimes graze it over my cheeks...I also never thought to wash them...nor did I think the mites were an issue...yikes

 

[gregory]

I handle a lot of wild birds. Feather mites and almost all insects that like birds aren't interested in people

Except the red mites that love chickens. We used to keep a very lot of chickens and those mites LOVE to run around all over us peopels. I still shudder to remember the day I was paid (admittedly quite a lot) to clear out the deep litter they lived in in winter. Afterwards I spent the next hour or so submerging myself in the bathtub while the HORRID little things floated to the surface - where there were enough that they almost formed a crust on the water. EEEW thanks for the memory. Not. I don't think they DID anything to me - but UGH.

I'm not sure they would stay on feathers once there was no bird attached, though...

 

[Rhapsodin]

once there was no bird attached, though...

Hahahahahaha!! Love the phraseology. Two mites panicking because they find themselves on a feather with no bird attached!

 

[VGimlet]

Keep in mind that it's illegal to pick up or keep eagle feathers if you are not a registered member of a indigenous tribe, or have a permit.

I know someone who lives on one of the San Juan islands who had a little collection of feathers, feathers she found in her yard and on the beach in front of her house. According to a federal game official she contacted because she was curious after hearing there was a law against it - possession of even one feather can bring a fine of $100,000 and a jail sentence.

So, aside from the mites....yikes.

I do have a few feathers I've collected from here and there. I think I froze them before I put them in my journal.