new member

[PNaG]

O Puff is just to cute ! and white is a beautiful color

[puffinp]

The dust I'm referring to is natural to cockatoos, they give it off like dandelions . Once again, Nancy our Queen Mod could explain it much better, but is very harmful to other parrot species which I didn't know until I joined here. I'm sure there are lots of old post available on this subject if you're looking but your best bet is still to get aquainted with Outlaw , especially with your GWs. You won't find a better friend and mentor.

[PNaG]

Thanks much. I'll keep an eye for her and its interesting to know that the folks at my birdie place didnt inform me about the "dust" and the possible problem it could coz my babies. ..considering I got my babies from there.

Thanks again .

[puffinp]

OUTLAWS ON !!! I've told her about you . You must meet !!!

[Monica]

Dust from cockatoos, greys, and tiels cause uppper respiratory problems in blue and gold macaws which cannot be undone and can possibly kill a B&G in 5-10 years if your house isn't kept clean... The three dust birds (toos, greys, tiels) do not produce an oil to keep their feathers clean so instead have a very fine powdery dust that comes off of the feathers...

I haven't heard of dust being a problem with any other type of bird, and I am currently caring for 5 cockatiels, a cherry head conure, 4 budgies, and 2 bourkes... Other than cages being dirtier because of the dust, I haven't had any problems...

Gorgeous photos of the GW's!!! Now where's their little cous', the conure????

[The Outlaw]

Welcome to Birdboard. Thanks for all of the praise. Let me try to live up to it (LOL). I have 10 birds, 6 of which are macaws, so they often have me field macaw questions. However, I assure you that I don't have the most macaws, by a longshot.

Your babies are really darling. I have a 25 year old GW who hung the moon and stars. She's just wonderful.

The too dust issue is a problem when housing cockatoos with macaws, especially BG macaws. Some have very serious, life threatening reactions to the dust. It takes about 5 years until the first symptoms start and it usually ends before the macaw reaches its 20th birthday. Its a lot like miner's lung. Its called pulmonary hypersensitivity disorder.

THE OUTLAW

[puffinp]

PNag. see what I meant about Nancy??? Just get a look at her GW's , you to will be sharing stories in no time (ask about the tiki hut) But don't forget us Too travelers that brought you toogether . Again so good to always have another avian lover on the perch !

[Cowgirl Chris]

Welcome to the board and you have very beautiful fids on your hands

[Irish]

Welcome. You'll like it here :-).

I have a BG macaw baby, and 2 days later was given a rescue U2 lady. Totally unexpected. To hopefully help prevent the dust issue for my beloved Bob, we have HUGE hepa filters running in every single room in the house. HUGE! Plus, I sweep and vacuum 2-3 times/daily, bathe Gracie the U2 as often as I can pry her into the shower, and house Gracie and Bob in separate rooms. We clean or change filters weekly, and they need it! Between the dogs and the bird dust, it's a killer when we don't have them running. The filters are noisy, even not running on full power, but with all the dog and bird noises around here, we hardly notice the filters--until we turn them off to change or clean them. Then the silence is so loud it almost hurts :-).

Your GWs are beautiful! I didn't think I wanted one (I prefer the looks of Scarlets) until I met a baby GW at the place I got Bob. In a little while, after the baby weans, he'll be coming home with me. To know them is to love them!

Lance and Amber--if you get a Hy, I am going to be SOOOOOOOOO jealous! Don't do it, mon! You'll cost us a fortune! Can you imagine us having to build a bird room and get my dream Hy just to keep up with the "Joneses"? *grins*

[Keibird]

Now you guys are just teasing me. lol. I want a macaw so bad but have promised myself to wait until after college and after I get a good career.

It's good to know about the dust thing.