feathers

[Former_Member]

Does anyone know if using feathers on baby/children items is ok?

Thanks! :)

[Former_Member]

I thought that CPSIA was all about Lead *mostly*?
Lead in Feathers???

[Former_Member]

Natural feathers seem okay... if they were dyed you'd probably have to get 'em tested.

[Former_Member]

You better check the laws for feathers, many can not be used for anything, you are not even allowed to pick them up and carry them home.

Several years ago a woman gave the first lady (clinton or bush, can't remember) a handmade dream catcher and the woman was arrested. It was one hell of a ordeal that woman went through because she didn't know about the federal laws on feathers.

[Former_Member]

My partner just told me that they think it is only feathers of birds of prey, hawks, eagles, owls, etc. that are illegal but check anyway.

[Former_Member]

I have used feathers in crafts and some come in different colors...like they have to be dyed. What about the dye used in ome of those feathers?

I have some that are blue, purple, green etc and obviously are not the natural color of the feathers.

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone!

We probably do need to test the dyes in the feathers...even the white ones are probably not in their "natural" state.

So many rules!

[Former_Member]

Feathers could cause a potential choking factor for a child!

[Former_Member]

It has got to the point that people are getting scared about everything they sell. every thing Could be bad for children{ex-buttons, anything that they could put in thier mouth. Does that mean that a knitted scarf that a child puts in thier mouth and the fibers cone loose, is that going to be banned, i think not. I think, that people are letting this new law get them all worried about nothing. Most of this new law refers to lead stemming from all the recalls on toys a few years ago.

[Former_Member]

earthwindnfire says:
I think, that people are letting this new law get them all worried about nothing. Most of this new law refers to lead stemming from all the recalls on toys a few years ago.

--------------------------------------------
earthwind...have you actually read this law? It's not nothing and there is much to be worried about. There's a whole lot more than toys affected.

[Former_Member]

Yes, I have read it , but I must be reading something else into it, I;m not saying there is nothing to worry about. But if you buy , say for ex charms from a wholsaler, you are bying them under the premise that they are lead free if thier catalog say so, I'm not trying to take it lightly, but I don't feel like I've seen others that they have to get each item tested etc etc, and I did say most of the law.

[Former_Member]

I would think it would be fine. It's one of those things that would individually affect each person differently and where is the responsiblity of the parents? If they know a child has an allergy, etc., to something isn't it their responsibility not to buy the item? I would just include a disclaimer in the sales description. XO. Good luck.

[Former_Member]

oh yea...there are laws in place for sure about endangered species, like eagles. But... seriously? If you come across a feather in your path I believe there is a message in that and it is your responsibility to pick it up. And yes, I would tell that to a federal court! Laws can be so ridiculous sometimes.

[Former_Member]

SooSweet I personally was not talking about the kind of feathers one may find that fall off a bird. In craft stores there are pkgs of dyed feathers. These are what I was referring to.

Not sure about the original poster

[Former_Member]

Even non bleached or dyed feathers are chemically cleaned. I buy a LOT of feathers for my work here on etsy, and those packages stink to high heaven!

[Former_Member]

Laws about not using endangered species feathers have more to do with prevent DEMAND for those feathers, than using the very few that my naturally be available.

Entire species of fancy birds were nearly wiped out at the turn of the last century because of the fancy feathers ladies wanted for their hats.

Most of the commercially available feathers today are also, coincidentally, farmed and food birds.

[Former_Member]

You know this is a bit of nostalgia!!
Back in the day, the 70's that is, baby prams were painted, and the paint contained lead.
We wore PVC and polyester, drank milk straight from the bottle at the doorstep, made our own pop.

Now I am talking UK. I don't live there now, but I can tell you, as a kid, I would pick up any feather and I am ok.

It is really hard for anyone making baby and kiddy items to know what products are ok and not. I totally agree with
earthwindfire, now that's another bit of nostalgia. LOL
(your name I mean) how cool!!

HUGS Ember

[Former_Member]

I LOVE everyones stores here BTW just checked em all out.

[Former_Member]

The laws about feathers are there to protect the birds from being slaughtered by a demand for their plumes. However, I don't always agree with the stringent rules regarding found feathers. As a native american, we are still regulated by the feathers we are allowed to possess.

Raptor feathers are not allowed to be in the possession of anyone not registered or documented by a native nation. There are some exceptions but they are few. Even so, eagle feathers are registered with the DNR and are documented as to who they are distributed too. However, there aren't many indian folk who don't have their own undocumented eagle feathers.

Some feather's may be possessed but not sold in any way. Crow comes to mind... but there are others.

That's my weigh in... sharing what I know.... but I don't know about the other crafting or common feathers in regards to the CPSIA laws.

[Former_Member]

TripleWillowGifts--funny you just mentioned about the feathers, when I had a bandm shop, a man came in and wanted to sell me a box. In the box was a big asst of regulated feathers. He said he wasn't selling the feathers just the box. Ha, I told him no thankyou.

[Former_Member]

StepBackInTime says:
"My partner just told me that they think it is only feathers of birds of prey, hawks, eagles, owls, etc. that are illegal but check anyway."

Absolutely NOT. Its all songbirds and water fowl, and actually most birds period. Even if you find a molted feather on your lawn...you cannot use it. Let me go find the law for you.

All I can say, is any not commercially raised fowl...the feathers cannot be used...turkey, chicken pheasant, guniea hen, peacock are some you can use.

Migratory ducks & geese, sea gulls, song birds, raptors, hawks, owls, even crow...are some you canNOT use.

The pretty mallard or cananda goose molted feather you found on your lawn? forget it. the feathers from the songbird who smashed into your window? Nope. you cannot use them. the downy feathers left in the nest you clean out in autumn? Nope.

[Former_Member]

http://www.indianseminar.com/feathers.htm

http://netnet.net/~cloud9/tips/tips_feathers_legal.html


And for the real legal info google the Migratory Bird Species Act.

[Former_Member]

I never posted in this topic because I don't make anything for kids let alone babies.
BUT... feathers for baby items????

Legal or not I wouldn't do it.
Babies can have allergies for one thing.
Feathers, no matter how secured can and will loose bits. Have bits pulled off, what ever. And all can get into a babies system.

I'm sure the legal issues of what kinds of feathers have been discussed. It's irrelevant. Feathers are not a good idea for babies.

Heck I even heard a doctor advise against feather pillows for some kids because of the allergy thing.


Finally, there is no way to actually sterilize a feather.

[Former_Member]

Oh, I hope you all read those links I posted...as they also show what the fines are if you get caught with so much as one feather. And I did not know..the perosn turning you in...gets 1/2 of the fine as a reward! Wow.

As a former antiques dealer at enormous outdoor shows, I know the Federal fish and Wildlife attend these shows and DO arrst and confiscate a persons illegal possessions. A guy once was selling an antique native American Staff, with eagle feathers...and they came and arrested him and confiscated his entire booth. this was at the Kane county fairgrounds in illinois...where there were 3,000 dealers, and around 25,000 visitors that day.

[Former_Member]

In response to the OP though...I do not think feathers whould be safe for a baby anyways.....they put things in their noses and mouth. No....I would not think it a good safe idea, just from a practical standpoint.

For one, safety...no baby with feathers up its nose.
Second, feathered items are costly to dry clean and not possible to wash. so, Its just not practical, although it might be very cute.