Parrots have colorful plumage that never fails to captivate our attention. We often like to watch them meticulously groom these feathers by preening and cleaning them using their beaks. But as these birds preen and flap their beautiful wings, they also shed loads of dander on the floor.
Dander or feather dust is a white powder that some parrots produce in copious amounts. For many people, it can be a big issue due to health concerns and the general cleanliness of their house.
Fortunately, it is not impossible to manage parrot dust. Bathing your parrot regularly can keep the dust to a minimum and prevent your house from getting covered in dander. You may also choose to clean more frequently or consider installing an air purifier.
In this article, we’ll talk about why some parrots are so dusty and share useful tips to control parrot dander in the house.
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What Does Parrot Dust Look Like?
Parrot dust is simply dander produced by the feathers. Most parrots have patches of feathers called powder downs. These are similar to the downs seen on baby parrots but on adults, these feathers are hidden inside and create a soft, usually white, powdery substance. This powder covers the parrot’s body and its feathers.
Parrot dust cannot be easily noticed. These are fine particles that only become visible under certain conditions, much like the normal dust in the air. You can spot it on a black surface or under narrow sunlight.
Why Are Parrots Dusty?
All parrots produce dust naturally, although the amount of dander depends on the species. Most parrots use oil from their uropygial gland to preen their feathers while others utilize dust. These parrots are called powder-based or dander-based birds. Their dander is a very fine white powder that they use to groom their feathers.
The preening gland is located at the base of the tail feathers of parrots. It secretes oils and other organic compounds for the parrots to apply to their feathers. This oil is meant to prevent the keratin of the feathers from drying out. However, some parrots like the Amazon Parrot do not have fully developed preening glands and hence rely on the dander on their feathers to groom themselves.
According to Laboratory Animal Welfare, birds also like to bathe in the dust as a means to clean themselves. It works similarly to oil preening and serves the purpose of keeping the feathers waterproof. This is also true in parrots since many of them do not have a uropygial gland but still choose to preen their feathers.
Is Parrot Dust Dangerous?
Parrot dust poses a health risk for humans as it can remain airborne for a longer time by easily settling on furniture and fabrics in the house. It can find its way to our respiratory systems causing allergic reactions and various diseases.
Trigger Asthma
If you are a person with asthma or have a family member that suffers from the condition, it is important to know that the dust from parrot feathers can flare up their symptoms. People with asthma are sensitive to dust so you should be careful introducing your parrot. Certain oil-based birds do not create as much trouble in terms of dander, but it is better to take precautions when around them. Babies and kids must not be allowed around a dusty parrot as they can be more susceptible to developing respiratory problems.
Bird Fancier’s Lung
As the name suggests, this a disease that is more common in people who fancy pet birds around them. Bird Fancier’s Lung is a respiratory disease caused by exposure to proteins that can trigger an immune response. It is primarily caused by the secretions found in bird feathers and the germs of their droppings. These antigens can cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals or people with weak immune systems.
According to an independent research published by Research Gate, viruses can survive for longer periods on parrot dust making them a more dangerous form of transmitting bird-related diseases.
Symptoms of Bird Fancier’s Lung:
- Coughing
- Tightness in chest
- Trouble breathing
Affect The Parrot’s Health
The dander produced by parrots is not just harmful to us but to them as well. Parrots typically live in small cages, which means most of the dander they shed ends up accumulating around their living environment. This poses a major risk because the accumulated dust can be inhaled by them and cause coughing, wheezing, and other respiratory problems.
How To Manage Parrot Dust?
You cannot stop your parrot from producing dust altogether since it is a natural product that helps to keep its feathers healthy. But you can minimize how much dander your parrot sheds on a daily basis and its accumulation around the house. Here are some strategies to keep parrot dust to a minimum:
Regular Baths
Normally, giving your parrot a bath every once or twice a week is considered fine. But if have a particularly dusty parrot like an African Grey or Cockatiel, you may consider washing them more often. It is not a bad thing to give your bird a nice shower every 2-3 days. It will keep your parrot clean and also take care of the dander.
However, getting your parrot to take a bath regularly can be tricky sometimes as not all of them are much fond of water. I sometimes like to gently spray my parrot with water when it really does not want to take a bath. They will usually shake their feathers to dry off the water which will also shed the dander.
Regular Cleaning
There’s always going to be some amount of dander around the house, particularly near the parrot’s cage. So, it is important that you don’t let the dust sit on surfaces for too long because it can be a risk to your parrot’s health as well.
This may especially be a problem if you have more than one bird in your house. Also, if your parrot is particularly more dusty, you would need to be extra vigilant in keeping its surroundings clean. It might also be a good idea to wear a mask while cleaning the cage and other areas.
Use A Vacuum Cleaner With HEPA Filter
HEPA or high-efficiency particulate air filters are able to trap 99.97 or dust particles that are 0.3 microns in size. It is specially designed for catching animal dander, hair, smoke particles, and other small particles that might cause respiratory problems, thereby significantly reducing the pollutants in the air.
Consider An Air Purifier
Typically, all air purifiers come with a HEPA filter, however, if not, you should keep it in mind while buying one. Air purifiers work by capturing airborne particles as they move through the air. The purifier traps the pollutants and releases clean air back into the environment, preventing you from breathing in parrot dust.
Make Changes Around The House
Since you cannot directly control the amount of dander your bird produces, you may have to make some changes to the surroundings to prevent a build-up of parrot dust. Here are some tips you can use in reorganizing your home to better handle the dander:
- Avoid carpets as they can easily accumulate dust.
- Consider dark colors for the furniture to easily spot and clean the dander.
- Opt for vinyl shades instead of curtains where possible.
- Choose leather over cloth.
Now, many of these changes may seem like an added cost, but you need not do this throughout the house. You can choose to make the changes where your bird spends most of its time, like the room where its cage is kept or the living room.
Are All Parrots Dusty?
Parrots differ in their feather composition. Some parrots are oil-based while others rely more on dust to preen their feathers. However, in general, most parrots produce dust to some extent. The amount of dust a parrot produces comes down to where they originate. Generally, parrots from humid regions are more dander-based birds. This may be attributed to the fact that those areas do not have much water which may be the reason why these parrots have dry feathers.
