Feathers?

[Armitage]

Anyone know of a good household product to get rid of feather parasites? I've been finding crow feathers all over the past few days and think they should become part of something I make, and if it's wearable I don't wanna end up with mites or something similar.

[Lavender]

Hmmm...I don't know if this will work for feathers. I make teddy bears out of old mohair & fur coats. To make sure nothing's living in the fur, I would wrap up coat in a air tight plastic bag & place it in the deep freeze for a couple of weeks. Then I give it a good brushing before using the fabric. I wonder if this would work on feathers too. I also have found lots of crow feathers around here & was wondering the same thing. Unfortunately, I don't have a deep freeze anymore. :(

[Mairwen]

Um, I don't know about where you are, but where I am, it's illegal to own crow feathers. I have some, but I don't dare put them where they can be seen by the general public.

[Armitage]

It's illegal? Wow, that's odd, especially for such a common species. I can understand birds of prey and such...
Thanks for the warning though, because I'm not too sure.

[Mairwen]

I'd check into it. Certain things it's illegal to have, and different types of feathers are among those. Dunno why.

[Lavender]

If you find out, Mairwen, let us know. I wonder why?

[Mairwen]

Still looking.

[Wyrdsister]

Sorry to add another sour note to this thread :( , but I know crows are a usual target for mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus. It's quite unlikely that any given crow has been infected with this virus, but it's just an example of the nasty things birds can actually carry around.

I like the plastic bag and freezer idea for mites and things (thanx!) but as for viruses - I have only a warning to offer.

Interesting thread! I'm sure I'll check back. :)

Wyrdsister

[Armitage]

I think after they've been in the freezer, a misting of Lysol'll be a good idea. I forgot about that, thanks Wyrd.

[Lavender]

I checked with someone who knows a bit about the West Nile virus. So far, it's affecting crows in the New York area. And that it's pretty immediately. He said that unless you're taking feathers off a dead crow, they're pretty safe. But just to be on the safe side, you can wash them gently with a down feather cleanser. The kind you use to wash down jackets & such. And the freezing should work for mites & other creepy crawlies. He said the lysol would be a good idea but will leave a gummy film on your feathers.

[Mairwen]

Thanks for the information. That's quite useful.

FWIW, I saw in my AT&T Newswire today that the West Nile Virus has been found on/in/with dead crows in Florida. :(

[Lavender]

That's terrible! Apparently, other birds can be carriers of this virus but crows are (& he used a big fancy word which I can't remember) affected almost immediately. It's transmitted by body fluids.

[Armitage]

It probably has to do with the fact that crows are larger, so most of the smaller birds have higher temperatures and aren't affected by the virus, where a crow's temp might be closer to ours, and they are more susceptible to shared diseases.

[Armitage]

I'd like to know what the hell me finding all these could mean...Since I started this thread, I've found well over a dozen, and that's just the ones in good enough shape to keep. It's getting creepy.

[Mairwen]

Well, sweetie, perhaps Crow is trying to tell you something?

Mari
Who loves Crows :D

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
Have been interested in Bird and Feather Lore for some time now :> . I wont go into what some of the meanings Of Crow can be ,,, because I believe when you get a message like that from the Divine Source, that the answers are there for YOU to find, and that is your sacred Quest.
I can tell you I have learned much more than I ever thought possible from my Swan Totem , familiar spirit , bird energy friend and GUARDIAN than I ever thought possible.
About the feather thing, a species doesnt have to be endangered for the ownership of its feathers fur or other body parts to be illegal.
I went to our local Zoo last year to see about getting some more Swan Feathers, to make a fan with ,( for Smudging and Feather energy which is fantastic) and even though the birds there are not endangered , although some are threatened, it is illegal to for the ZOO to give out or sell any parts because then can be guilty of trafficking in animal parts ; even the feathers that are dropped in the animal areas when they are molting and swept away when the areas are cleaned, are considered contraband.
Here is a great Bird lore link,
http://www.endicott-studio.com/forbird.html
Many Blessings My Feathered Friend
Swannie

[Mooncrow]

Raven and Crow feathers are illegal to own as they are members of the raptor family. Git this data at the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing this last summer. I do however have a feather source:

http://www.matoska.com

They have a number of different sizes, colors and qualities.

BB

Mooncrow

[Armitage]

I think it'll be cool unless I go advertising the fact. I think the local police, however boring it is in Suburbia, have better things to do.
Checking the link anywho, i like pretties. ^_^

[Reeny]

Thanks for this thread. I think I have learned to appreciate crows

a little more. Growing up I always hated crows and humming

birds. My parents were from the South and they always said

crows and hummings only come around to claim a soul. Growing

up in the city, whenever a crow or a hummingbird was heard, my

parents were sure they would hear news of someone passing on

in the neighborhood or the community, and most of the time there

was news of a passing. Thanks again learning much at MW.

:;) ;) ;)

[skysteed]

Unfortunately crows aren't the only birds affected. I'm in Toronto Canada, in the past 7 days there has been 14 confirmed cases of the virus found in dead birds(crows and blue jays). They (department of health) strongly suspect that it is transmitted by mosquitoes, they are presently setting out traps and testing the little biters.
If it is comfirmed to be the little bitting bugs then pray for a cold spell to kill them off. The disease is transmittable to humans. Death can occur in people with a weak immune system. Healthy bodies can get mild flu like symptoms and others have been conmfired of having the virus in their system with no ill health affects.

[Lavender]

I heard that on the news the other night. :(

[arewynn]

down here we have all been under the impression everyone
knew it was the misqueto spreading it.the vast reports in florida
are in the panhandle,allthough they found a bird carrier one county south of us.
arewynn

[Armitage]

The mosquito spreads the virus from bird to human, and the crows are an indicator if the virus is in the area because they're more susceptible to it than other birds.

[Wyrdsister]

I'm thankful I haven't seen any skeeters in the past while. My parents are in New Brunswick and they've been having a hellish mosquito season. It's a good think that West Nile hasn't "officially" found its way there yet.

The media has been in a bit of a blather with this whole West Nile thing, no?

Wyrdsister

[Thunder]

Many times I find feathers in ponds or streams or just in the muck. The best way to clean the dirt off of them is to soak them in warm water and a mild detergent. I add Oxyclean to bleach out algae without affecting the feather. I dry them with a blow dryer and preen them back into shape with my fingers. The next step is to store the feathers in a ziplock bag with a handful of good old fashioned moth balls. This last step kills the mites. The mites are no real hazard to us but they actually eat the feather. Over time, a feather will appear to disintegrate... this is the work of the mites.

Thunder