Dust from Greys and Macaw Owners

[Doug W]

Hello!

I am writing to ask Macaw and Grey Owners how they cohabitate their birds? I specifically ask regarding the Grey's dust???

My hubby (DougW) and I are seeking out a new Family Member (either a B&G or Cag). We were informed that the Greys produce dust that could harm our little Piper (Hahn's Macaw)?!

If anyone owns Macaws and Greys together....how do you do it? Are they in separate rooms? Do you let them play together? Do other bird owners have breathing problems with their Macaws due to the Greys?

We would never do anything to harm our little Piper, so any information would be great. I SO love the Greys and would LOVE to own one, but not at the expense of my little Angel Piper :D

[The Outlaw]

I have 5 macaws and 2 greys. By far, the Congo produces the most dust. I have them in relative close proximity, so I do the following:

1. I shower the dust birds daily.
2. I vacuum AT LEAST once a day
3. I always spritz cage papers before picking them up.
4. I run 2 air cleaners round the clock and change filters often.
5. I replace furnace filters monthly.
6. I use a steamer to get dust on dried flower arrangements, the Christmas
tree and other things that are difficult to dust.
7. I own 5 vacuums. 3 have HEPA filters, and I have a shop vac and I think
a Shark canister (not sure, its a Christmas surprise)
8. I run 3 humidifyers all winter long.
9. I shower the macaws about every other day and keep their sleeping
cages away from the greys.

THE OUTLAW

[Doug W]

Dear Outlaw:

Thank you very much for your great information. Doug and I have heard about the "dust", but did not know the extent of damage it caused.

We have alot to think about. We are going to a new Bird Store tomorrow. it is supposed to be a HUGE store with thousands of species.

We are going to handle many and eventually someone will choose us. :D

I think in the next several weeks we will have an addition to our Family. We will certainly let everyone know when it happens.

Thanks again - Great Info!!!!

[The Outlaw]

Here's something that EVERY dust feather bird owner REALLY needs to understand:

The dust from feathers is caused from keratin. That's the waxy stuff that coats the feather shafts as they are developing and is also the powder dust on toos, tiels and greys.

Lots of powder feather bird owners have had to give up ALL birds if they haven't be extremely careful about controlling the dust. You see, the dust collects in human lungs and cannot be removed. As a result, the lungs can't function correctly and people get very sick. Its very similar to coal miner's lung.

Even if you only have a few small tiels, don't EVER think you're the exception to the rule and its really a bad idea to have them in the room you sleep in. After all, dust settles down and when you're lying down, you're probably under it.

This doesn't mean that dust feather birds are to be avoided. Not at all. Just understand that ALL birds have some dust, but some are MORE dusty than others and its very important to use good, common sense as far as hygiene.

If you are only vacuuming once or twice a week, then I can promise you that's simply not enough.

When I change my furnace filter each month, I am constantly shocked at how much junk its collected. I also use HEPA furnace filters.

THE OUTLAW

[Kevin]

Great info.... nancy... ! I know when I had 10+ tiels and a love bird the kept me busy constantly vacuming as it adds up fast!

[DougW]

Outlaw,
We have a 2 stage electronic air filter for the heating & air system, and a hepa filter in the vac. We try and vacume every other day, I hope thas enough. :? I had no idea that the dust could build in human lungs though! :shock:
I'm leaning more towards a Macaw, I just need to get my wife around them some more.
Thank you again for all of your help, it's hard to get good info from pet stores, you never know when your getting good info or a sales pitch!!

Thanks,
Doug

[rubiojwls]

Hey Nancy, I haven't been in the forum for some time now, but is very interesting what you said about the bird dust. My father got really sick in the month of June and the doctors have not been able to diagnost him yet.
One of the specialist asked him if he had any pets and he replied that they do have an African Grey. The doctor immediately instructed him to get rid of the bird and he was 80% positive that it was the bird. I got to admit that I was really upset when I heard that from a doctor. I thought that this was not possible and got even more upset when my mother gave Daisy to my uncle.
Now that I heard this from this board it got me thinking. I myself have 3 African Greys and I would be debustated if any of my kids got sick.
My father would start coughfing and would faint.
After my mother gave Daisy away, my father has slowly gotten better but now I'm afraid that the dust is there to stay in his lungs...right?
I have an air filter that I have right next to my birds and the filter gets really dirty. I have to wash the filter every other week or sooner.
Anyways everytime I log into birdboard I learn something new.

[tielfan]

A true-HEPA air purifier in the room is helpful. Be sure to vacuum the pre-filter periodically - if you have any kind of pets, smoke, or have some other kind of particle-producing activity going on, that's a heavy-duty use and the filter won't last as long as it's supposed to unless you vacuum it. I vacuum mine every two weeks, and here's the amount of dust that the coal-black 11x16" filter collects from four tiels in that time period:



I really ought to vacuum it more often, but for some reason two-week intervals are easier to remember.