Is It Safe to Pick up Bird Feathers

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology says that it is safe to handle feathers, as long as you are not in an area where there have been cases of the avian flu virus. The virus has been detected in poultry and in more than 100 different species of wild birds, mostly waterfowl and shorebirds.

Is it okay to pick up bird feathers?

Generally, it’s safe to pick up bird feathers that you find on the ground unless you live in an area known to be affected by avian influenza, which is highly contagious. Most diseases spread by birds come from contact with the feces, not the feathers, and parasites carried by birds are mostly species-specific.

What diseases can you get from bird feathers?

• Commonly called Parrot Fever.
• Caused by the bacterium, Chlamydophila psittaci .
• Infected by inhaling airborne particles originating in bird fecal matter, feathers and respiratory secretions of infected species.
• The onsetof symptoms occurs about 5-10 days after infection.