Bird dust is a white powder produced by the feathers that are closest
to the skin. This powder helps keep your bird’s feathers soft and silky.
As a result, African Greys, Cockatoos, Cockatiels and Amazons that produce
this powder are called powder down birds. Dust from the Amazon is less
noticeable than the other breeds because it is darker and often goes unnoticed.
This wing dust is just one of several kinds of
dust or dander that birds generate. While it is a pain to clean up, bird dust also
causes a tremendous increase in airborne particles
in your home which can accumulate and cause
health problems, especially for those with sensitive noses or allergies.
Main Problems of Bird Dust and Dander:
- Clogged Air Passages - Birds have an incredibly efficient
respiratory system, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Even though
their air passages are small, these tubes are highly efficient
in transporting air. However, because the
airways are so tiny, they can quickly and easily become clogged.
When birds are forced to breathe air that is thick
with dander and dust, as well as other normal household pollutants, it
almost always leads to disease and infection which can shorten your bird's
Instinct allows birds to be able to effectively hide symptoms
when they are ill. This behavior keeps them from being seen as weak and
defenseless and being seen as prey for other animals. This behavior doesn't
stop once they become a part of your family. Being able to hide the problem
from their humans allows the illness to progress, until
there is little
or no chance of having them recover even with medical attention.
- Bird Fancier's Lung - This is a disease that
affects humans. It starts when dried feces dust is inhaled. The onset
of symptoms occurs fairly rapidly, usually within a 6-hour period. Symptoms
include chills, fever, dry cough and chest pain. This condition is very
rare and is only occasionally fatal.
- Allergy and Asthma Trigger - People who suffer
from airborne allergies are generally hypersensitive to a variety of particles,
including normal household irritants like household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores and pet dander.
Adding more particles into the air with a dusty feathered friend
usually increases allergy and asthma flare ups to an uncomfortable
level. When allergic reactions and allergy symptoms become extreme, many
people are forced to make a painful choice between their beloved bird
and their health.
Tips for Reducing and Controlling Dust and Dander:
- Continuous HEPA Filtration - Taking the particles out of
the air is important
for the health of both birds and their owners. Since this is a particulate
problem, the best type of filtration is high efficiency particle arresting
(often shortened to HEPA) filtration. As its name suggests, it is incredibly
efficient at removing particles as small as .3 microns with 99.97% efficiency.
This means that 99,997 out of every 10,000 particles are removed from
This type of filter is all-encompassing, so it would also
remove normal household pollutants such as dust, dust mites, mold and
mildew spores, and dander from other pets. Unfortunately, these
airborne pollutants are typical even in the cleanest of homes unless the air
is being filtered. These filtration systems are readily available in a variety
of floor models you can move from room-to-room, as well as installed into
your home air system.
- Clean Regularly- A regular
cleaning schedule will greatly help reduce the amount of irritants that can be inhaled. Reducing the
irritants this way will make the room a more pleasant place to be, particularly
for those who are sensitive to the dander and powder.
- Clean Smarter - Carefully choosing the furnishing in the
bird's room can make cleaning easier and more efficient. Choose surfaces
throughout the room that can be easily wiped clean. Fabrics and
carpets make it difficult to clean, because particles become embedded
in the fabric, rather than sitting on the surface.
When wiping down surfaces, use a slightly damp cloth rather than a dry
cloth, as it gathers more of the debris, sending less of it airborne.
- Choose Your Bird Carefully - This is not much help if you
have already fallen in love with a particular breed or bird.
However, if you are planning to add to another bird to your family, doing
a little research can help you decide on the type of bird that is
likely to produce less dust and dander.
- Limit The Number of Birds - Some birds are happier
when living with another bird.
However, you can greatly reduce the amount of particles by carefully considering
how many birds your space can comfortably handle. By the number of feathered
friends you choose, you will automatically reduce the dust and dander
levels in your home.
Following the above suggestions can make a huge difference
in the quality of life you provide for both you and your pet bird. Eliminating
bird dust from the air means a healthier bird and a healthier you.