colbyjack 0 Report post Posted July 2, 2006 is there anything wrong with using feathers that one finds on the farm from chickens, ducks, etc...? around the bird feeder? i mean will they have bugs? is it legal to use bird feathers you find? like say a red one from a cardnial, or blue from a blue jay etc.... just courious before i start looking for free feathers in the yard and on the farm. thanks -chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
day5 0 Report post Posted July 2, 2006 My kids bring me stuff all of the time. I freeze all wild materials. also bag each item up separately form the rest of my stuff. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HideHunter 0 Report post Posted July 2, 2006 Chris - Chickens and gamebirds are basically not a problem. I've never run into a "bug" problem but you can seal them up with mothballs or a piece of flea collar. No songbird or raptor feathers. Illegal to have them in your possession. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hard 0 Report post Posted July 2, 2006 There are certian feathers you cant use, like heron, eagle or seagul. Here in Canada. I think it is a bit much, if you find a feather walking along the beach and a few feet find the mate. As a fly tyer you know you are going to want to take slips from them. I find feathers all the time, and use some. I dont know what the rules and regs are for your area but the feathers you mentioned should be fine. If a bird or animal is on the endangered species list, I am prety sure you can not use them. Check with your local Natural Resources. They will know for sure, and chances are will give you a few tips to local tyers, fishing spots, patterns and so on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redleg 0 Report post Posted July 3, 2006 OLB had a good tip to stick them in a box with mothballs for awhile. Freezing, just makes the bugs hibernate til they thaw. Try freezing a grass hopper and thaw it if you want to experiment. Technicaly, you can't possess a single feather from any raptor. I know you can't kill a song bird, but I don't know of a reason not to posess an individual feather? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted July 3, 2006 Not to disagree with ya Don, but the hibernation thing isnt really true with bugs that infest materials. Certian insects will hibernate, but the pests such as mites and such which infest tying materials dont have a "hibernation stage" like other larger insects, so freezing the materials for 3-5 days is a very effective way to kill them   If you want to really be sure though then do both. Freeze them then add some mothballs to them in a bag. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redleg 0 Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Sounds like disagreeing with me.... to me... I don't doubt you though. I just figured anything that could servive a nuclear blast..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
colbyjack 0 Report post Posted July 4, 2006 just got some chicken, guinny, duck, and phesant feathers today from a farm. a few mites. i bagged them up and put them in the freezer. ill see what happens. -chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
day5 0 Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Just always keep all feathers in seperat bags....that will localize any issue to a bag or two now a box of everthing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
