Warning about feather dusters in the brooder.

[The Sheriff]

I put an ostrich feather duster in the brooder because my tiny MFD was trying to be mothered by the salmon favs and the Buff Orp, who were not on board for that. They all love the duster and sleep on it all the time. I woke up this morning to hysterical, loud chirping from downstairs. I ran down to find my salmon 3 week old fav roo running around dragging the feather duster. I pulled him out to find the duster stuck to his foot. On closer examination I could see that the feathers had become twisted around his toe, swelling had set in, and the feathers were now acting as a tourniquet, cutting off blood supply to the toe. He was obviously in pain and I had to wrap him in a dishtowel to work on him. It took several minutes working under a magnifying glass to cut the feathers away without cutting his toe. I finally got it. I think he will be ok. The toe is very swollen proximally to where the feathers were but it seems to be getting better. He still doesn't stand on the foot. If you look closely you can see how swollen the toe is above the nail.

I will not use feather dusters as surrogate mommas in my brooder again. I wanted to let others know that again something seemingly harmless can do harm. My poor baby is proof.

Mary

 

[Katy]

Most people hang the duster from the side/top of the brooder so they can huddle under it. Then you wouldn't have to worry about them getting tangled in it.

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
Good to know. I hadn't read that.

 

[Wooden_Pony]

Sorry your chick got hurt!

As for his toe as long as it stay pink he should be fine. My parrot when he was a baby had the same thing happen with a toy. It was twisted into his leg so bad it cut to his bone almost. He still has all his toes but they were painfully swollen and his nails never grew back in.

Run to the Dollar Tree and pick up your chicks a stuffed animal. That is what we use for ours.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Poor little baby We use a stuffed animal or those (don't laugh) fuzzy slipper socks.

 

[Goat_Walker]

hope hie foot recovers quickly!

 

[BirdMom]

Oh, the poor thing! We use the cheap turkey feather duster, so it's not got any of those light fluffy strings that can wrap around the toes. I had wanted the ostrich one, but it was too expensive. Now I won't be wanting it! Thanks for the heads up on that. I hadn't thought about all those little fluffy strings on it. The turkey feather one just has stiff kind of feathers, still warm and fun for the chicks, but no stringy things to catch their little toesies.

Looks like he's getting better and should be fine. Glad you were home and able to take care of it!

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
I looked high and low for ANY feather duster. Like so many other things, they are obsolete. Now we have disposable dusters that pile up in the landfills. Oh well, progress.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

My wildlife rehab group raises California quail, and while the feather duster has been used before with success, this year we lost a quail chick or two to getting tangled in the feather duster. Best not to use a feather duster--it's not worth the risk to the babies.

I hope your chickie recovers well!

 

[BirdMom]

The Warden said

I looked high and low for ANY feather duster. Like so many other things, they are obsolete. Now we have disposable dusters that pile up in the landfills. Oh well, progress.

Wow! I didn't know they were that hard to find someplaces. I get mine at Walmart in the household cleaning section. They've got lots of the classic feather dusters, both ostrich and turkey feather. I see you live in California, though, and things are just weird there.

I was born there and lived in CA off and on for many years, but some of their regulations and such over the last few years just have me scratching my head and wondering what the heck happened. Too much sun for some people, I think. Maybe there is some regulation that says they can't sell real feather dusters there.

How's the baby's toe now? No further probs?​