Picking up Feathers

[originalkat]

How do you feel about kids picking up feathers outside? I have read some things saying that you should NEVER pick up a bird feather and other studies saying it is mostly a myth that there is true danger in picking them up. We are a nature focused childcare and I was wondering what others think about it.

[Blackcat31]

Hmmm, I've never really thought about it.....

I've always let the kids pick up feathers that they find.

We always wash our hands after coming inside.

I picked up and collected tons of feathers as a kid and I don't think I've got any long term or long lasting effects from doing so.

Next thing you know, kids will be required to go outside but not be allowed to actually touch anything.

Personally, I would continue allowing them to pick them up.

[spud912]

Hmmm, I've never really thought about it.....

I've always let the kids pick up feathers that they find.

We always wash our hands after coming inside.

I picked up and collected tons of feathers as a kid and I don't think I've got any long term or long lasting effects from doing so.

Next thing you know, kids will be required to go outside but not be allowed to actually touch anything.

Personally, I would continue allowing them to pick them up.

This is what I do too. It drives my husband batty because he thinks it is incredibly gross. Haha, he is more OCD than me 10-fold!

I say what doesn't kill them only makes them stronger!!

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdflu/what-you-should-know/q-a/is-it-safe-to-pick-up-feathers

Anything we bring in generally goes in a ziploc bag into the freezer to kill any little bugs. (pinecones etc)

[JoseyJo]

My mom always told us not to pick up feathers because they could carry lice. Maybe that's not true?? I will have to find out now!

[Willow]

Whatever is on the feathers will also be on the plain ground all around them.

There's junk everywhere, wash hands after playing outside and it shouldn't be a big deal

[e.j.]

My mom always told us not to pick up feathers because they could carry lice. Maybe that's not true?? I will have to find out now!

My mother told me the same thing when I was growing up. It stopped me from wanting to pick up feathers when I was younger and when my own kids were little, I cringed every time they picked feathers up. I didn't stop them but I always had them wash their hands afterwards. They're still alive.

[MarinaVanessa]

Hmmm, I've never really thought about it.....

I've always let the kids pick up feathers that they find.

We always wash our hands after coming inside.

I picked up and collected tons of feathers as a kid and I don't think I've got any long term or long lasting effects from doing so.

Next thing you know, kids will be required to go outside but not be allowed to actually touch anything.

Personally, I would continue allowing them to pick them up.

I'm the same. I let the kids pick them up if they want to but make sure that only the older 2yo's and older do this or at least that if any of the 1yo's pick them up that they aren't mouthers that might put their fingers/feathers in their mouths. I also carry hand sanitizer with me if we are away from the house which we will use for the time being when we leave the park/playground etc. and then just wash our hands again once we get back.

[originalkat]

Okay, that makes me feel better. I have always let them pick them up and we put their collection in a ziplock to take home. We washed up when we came inside. Well today a dad came to pick up 5yr old dcb and freaked out that I had let him pick up feathers from the ground. It really surprised me because this is a hunting/fishing/rescue the turtle from the middle of the road kind of family. So that got me wondering if my thinking was "off" on the feathers. After a google search I found mixed opinions so that is why I checked with you ladies.
:hug:I feel MUCh better.

[Scout]

My first thought-GERMS!!! But, honestly, I don't know enough to speak intelligently on the subject. I would not go for it because I am a very cautious person and I would always worry about disease.

[daycare]

I picked up much worse than that when I was a kid...So I think as long as they wash their hands after all is good......

Just make sure they don;t mouth it of course

[jenn]

My DCK's pick up everything. I don't really worry about it. We wash hands as soon as we come in and we have a rule that "what is found outside, stays outside". We don't bring rocks, sticks, dirt, feathers, or anything inside.

[AmyKidsCo]

I let them pick up almost whatever they want to outside, but I'll watch to make sure they don't put their hands in their mouths. Also they have to wash their hands when we come inside.

[drseuss]

I let them. They always wash up when we are back inside.

Side note: a couple of years ago, we collected a bowl of acorns that we were going to use for something or other. Well...a few days later we had a bowl of holy acorns and GRUBS. I nearly fainted. No more acorns in the house.

[midaycare]

I let them. They always wash up when we are back inside.

Side note: a couple of years ago, we collected a bowl of acorns that we were going to use for something or other. Well...a few days later we had a bowl of holy acorns and GRUBS. I nearly fainted. No more acorns in the house.

Oh ew!

I don't know why, but I draw the line at bird feathers. My mom just drilled it into me not to pick them up. It's a mental thing, not rational at all. The kids pick up much worse, but it makes me feel better, so there's that.