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Thank you! I just found some lovely crow feathers, but they obviously need some love. This video was exactly what I needed to know!

@DanielaMellen

11 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I clean them while dry, removing debris. That's less likely to damage the barbules, as those expand when water hits them. Pulling debris out while under water can more easily tear barbules, as well. I didn't know about bugs, or lice. The feathers I find are newly dropped within minutes to hours, though I found lice on one, which learned me 😬. I use soft soap then put them in front of a fan. I only clean the ones with debris.

If you only do what she does, your feathers will not come or as nice as when you found them. Each little strand they sticks off of the main shaft of the feathers is called a barb. Each barb has tiny hooks on it called barbules the keep it aligned with the one next to it, so that they appear as a solid surface. When you wash the feather, it separates a lot of them. Using the toothbrush probably does as well. When I am done blotting my feathers, I also blow dry them. But I preen them as I do it. I run my fingers over them to encourage those little barbules to reattach. (Preening is the term used when a bird runs its feathers through its beak to groom.)

@jessicajaerosenbaum115

7 ай бұрын

Very helpful thank you

Great information! Thanks.

There is also the USFWS Endangered Species Act that that prohibits the interstate commerce (sales across state lines) listed species or their parts.

This was awesome and therapeutic to watch. I always wanted to collect bird feathers. Thanks for the video. You have a new subscriber.

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks and welcome!

I have never heard of this law! I’m curious why it would matter if someone claims a found feather? Oh my …. I have never even though if cleaning a found feather!!! They look sooo pretty… I would love to see how to paint one!

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

Good question! The law originated as a way to prevent the overhunting of birds for their plumage, so making owning all feather (and bird parts) illegal was the solution. I imagine "proving" how you obtained a feather was the issue.

@killiansirishbeer

11 ай бұрын

I'm sure it also deters people from bothering the birds where they live and nest in order to "find" feathers. Whether you're actually trying to find loose feathers or are poaching them.

@aiissabeth

11 ай бұрын

Sadly I have collected a large quantity of Harris Hawk feathers and can't use any of them in accessories.. I am looking at 250k fines for each one I have in my possession. There is a nest they go to every year and I collect them from the field. I would never hurt or hunt a bird of prey. I do have a touch of Indigenous American in me, and I consider them gifts from God. Plus..you can't get blood from a stone😜

@jonhilderbrand4615

10 ай бұрын

Years ago, a place I used to run was a path around a large public pond. It was a place where flocks of geese would live, nest, and stop over on ways north and south. To be sure, they left hundreds of feathers all over the place, and I used to collect them for use in art projects. As a card-carrying member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe I can possess them, but the law is still fuzzy, as some folks say they can only be used in a religious context. But, they are private works, so I'm not too concerned with the feds showing up on my doorstep. 😂

@dubaiedge

9 ай бұрын

@@aiissabeth I've never heard of an American citizen jailed nor fined for a feather. I keep every last one I find. Mainly turkey. It's absurd someone should be 1/4 native 😂. I can "identify" as Indigenous if I want, why not? I'm not 1/4, but still have it in my tree. I think you should use your beautiful feathers however you want.

Great information! 😃

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Yes please to more feather ideas.

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

I'll work on more videos!

So helpful. Thanks so much. I collected some goose feathers in Iceland and need them clean!

@DanielaMellen

10 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

very helpful and detailed with great explanation and demonstration. i found a beautiful blue jay feather in my backyard from a blue jay im familiar with (we named him mr. jay) and i really wanted to use the feather but make sure it was clean and sterile. awesome, thank you!!!

@DanielaMellen

11 ай бұрын

What a find! Blue Jay feathers are just gorgeous!

@spookithfloof3828

10 ай бұрын

I hope some day the blue jay in my yard drops me some

Wanting to make keepsake feather bouquets from my girls' feathers, this video was a very helpful starting point

@DanielaMellen

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank youuuu!

@DanielaMellen

5 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you I found a beautiful crow feather 🪶 and I wanted too keep it thanks for the video 🖤😊

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful.

@111marcie

10 ай бұрын

Me too, we found a big black feather and I believe it was a crow in which my son loves. I just left it out but now it's gone

Thank you for this valuable information and new skill. I will use information to prepare my feathers.

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

So nice of you

@russellgarretson7284

Жыл бұрын

She's wrong .. if the birds native to USA it's highly illegal to have them not just the ones on the endangered list, all Native birds to USA the migratory bird treaty act applies

@taniabund4675

9 ай бұрын

​@@DanielaMellenwouldn't Glen 20 which we have here in Australia which is a disinfectant spray and then putting them in the sun kill any bacteria and sanitise it or do you feel it wouldn't be enough??

@DanielaMellen

9 ай бұрын

Good question. I am sorry that I don't have an answer for you. I am not familiar with Glen 20, and don't know if it contains something that may cause the feather to deteriorate.

Thank you for this! I always collect at the beach and have quite a pile to go through. Do you think the freezing would work if I were to (gently) fill large freezer bags with feathers? I have enough that single layers would take forever.

@DanielaMellen

10 ай бұрын

Wow! That's a lot of feathers! Yes, I think you can place them in a bag, maybe leave them in the freezer for a week or so - to make sure the inner feathers also were hit with the cold.

Would love to learn all the different ways u make feathers❤❤❤

@DanielaMellen

10 ай бұрын

I have a few videos.... kzread.info/dash/bejne/emh3tqOnXZrTgrg.html and kzread.info/dash/bejne/iYBpo7J8YcaXaZc.html and kzread.info4X6F9vZSePE

Can u use starts that you use for laundry to spray feathers

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure you can use starch to stiffen the feathers. I think it would work.

Please tell me what type of container I'd use for cleaning feathers? I'm going to be cleaning my peacock feathers. Which means I need 3 large containers. What do you suggest?

@DanielaMellen

11 ай бұрын

Peacock feathers can be rather large and delicate, so if ideally, if I had a small plastic container (the kind that hold scrapbooking paper) that would fit the feathers, I'd use that. If not, I think I would wrap the feathers together, in plastic wrap and then secure it closed (with tape or additional plastic wrap.) Then, to keep them flat and protected, I'd sandwich them between 2 sheets of cardboard (take apart boxes). Good luck. The feathers will be beautiful.

I would love to see how to paint the feathers

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

I'll work on a video for painting feathers! Thanks for the feedback.

Getting this feather 🪶 for my hat, sombrero since my peacock feather broke

I’m curious as to why you remove from the freezer after 48 hours and then room temp for 24 and then freeze again? I keep chickens and during the summer months I bathe them with a flea and tick shampoo to remove any mites or lice. I’m thinking that if you add some flea and tick shampoo to the dish detergent that would suffice to kill any parasites so that you wouldn’t have to freeze, thaw and re-freeze?

@DanielaMellen

7 ай бұрын

The flea/tick shampoo may work. The freezing method is a way to avoid using chemicals.

Hello,I found a feather. I believe a goose feather. I put it in a zip lock bag for about 20 days & have had it out for 4 days. Have screwed this up? What should I do?

@DanielaMellen

9 ай бұрын

Nothing to worry about.... just reseal it back in the bag and put in the freezer for another 24-48 hours. Then it should be good to use.

I am looking to clean a bunch of goose feathers to use as fletching. Will this remove the natural oils because i am looking to clean them while maintaining their natural waterproofing abilities.

@DanielaMellen

7 ай бұрын

The freezer method won't remove the oils.

@Soviless99

7 ай бұрын

@@DanielaMellen aye but i also have some putrid blood on many of them. I managed to save these feathers from a bunch of geese that were sitting around waiting to be composted…I might just freeze them then rinse them in warm water of vice versa.

Probably a dumb question so I'm sorry for that, but how do you actually collect them in the nature? Do you use gloves, or some tool? And then carry them home in a closed container...? Thanks!

@DanielaMellen

9 ай бұрын

Not a dumb question - at all. I think wearing gloves and placing them in a bag or closed container would be ideal. However, many times I find the feathers rather unexpectedly. If I'm home and find the feather in my yard - I'll do the unthinkable, and pick it up, place it outside in a sheltered place, stop what I'm doing and get a small plastic bag to start disenfecting it. Then, I wash my hands 2-3 times. Other times, if I'm wearing gloves in the garden, I'll set the feather aside, and retrieve a bag when I'm ready to call it a day. If I'm out on a nature walk, I'll usually bring a small paper bag with me to collect my treasures. And I again, usually just pick it up, gingerly, and place it in the bag.

@bosso3rd

9 ай бұрын

@@DanielaMellen thank you so much for your advice, truly appreciated!!!

@gh0stpuppi333

4 ай бұрын

Or if you’re me, you just pull over, pluck em with your bare hands and stick them in a grocery bag… because I’m a psycho

Wonder if mites on new feathers can eat treated feathers?

@DanielaMellen

4 ай бұрын

They sure can!

If I don't have peroxide will vinegar and soap work fine to sanitize?

@DanielaMellen

Ай бұрын

I don't know. It's worth a try.

How would you do this with down feathers?

@DanielaMellen

8 ай бұрын

Sorry, I can't help with that.

I would love to see your techniques please

@DanielaMellen

10 ай бұрын

I have a on using feathers or alternative feathers kzread.info/dash/bejne/qoF9xJuLZ7Sem9I.html

My mom died in July 2023. Few days later while mowing grass, I saw something white, swaying side to side. For the life of me I couldn't figure it out till I got closer . I looked and not a bird in the sky!!! Got off my tractor, picked it up and began crying. I told her I miss her so much. Took the feather in the house and put it aside. Much to my broken heart it is no longer pure white, it is gray. A dirty gray. Is there a way to get it back to its original color...white?

@DanielaMellen

7 ай бұрын

So sorry for your loss. I don't know of any way to bring the color back and not deteriorate the feather.

@kathgraham9209

7 ай бұрын

@@DanielaMellen Okay Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Can u wash them I have no frezzer

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

You can wash them, but they have to be cleaned with very hot water and detergent.

What if i had it fressing for a week 🤣 do i have to re freeze it. Accidentally left mine in and forgot it

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

I have done that too! I still go through the thaw and refreeze, but it's up to you. 😊

The feathers do not have to be on the endangered list if the bird is native to USA this law applies . All native bird feathers, parts are highly illegal to have with special entrest on raptors

@kylegonzalez5842

Жыл бұрын

You don’t know what your talking about, it apples to birds of prey migratory birds and lastly eagles are super protected. Many native birds I collect the feathers

@moocha4030

10 ай бұрын

@@kylegonzalez5842 All native birds in the US are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Its illegal to take any part of any native bird.

@cherigriffith724

5 ай бұрын

If there is a hunting season for the bird you're allowed to collect the feathers

If we identify as native Americans can we own eagle feathers? Asking for friends

Indigenous people can collect any feather they wish without penalty...

@damacaroniboy9720

Ай бұрын

as they should. they took great care of their country until your ancestors came and destroyed the whole country.

How do you clean gigantic angel wings feathers?

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

Just to double check, you mean the decorations or costume like wings? I would think that an aerosol air spray, the kind used on keyboards to blow away dust, would be your best way to clean those. They can't be laundered, so delicate care should be taken. Perhaps a dry cleaner could help, too.

@donnas8408

Жыл бұрын

@@DanielaMellen is Lysol ok?

@DanielaMellen

Жыл бұрын

@@donnas8408 I wouldn't use LYSOL or any liquid spray - just the spray air, you want to "dust" the angel feathers.

Theye all look like turkey feathers to me😅