COLLECTING During the year captive birds (just like wild ones) do lose some feathers, which are eventually replaced with newer ones. Feather loss happens from many natural causes, including flight, grooming, fighting and mating - but the main feather loss occurrence is during moulting, which occurs once to twice per year. The older feathers fall off naturally and newer ones replace them. So most of the fallen feathers cannot be expected to be in top condition otherwise nature wouldn't allow them to fall off the bird to begin with, but a small percentage of high grade feathers will still fall off during a moult or other natural cause.
The fallen feathers are collected by our partners and sent to us for the next steps, below:
SORTING, WASHING & PRESENTING The feathers are sorted into different groups and then treated in a 9 stage process, that involves: cleaning, sanitising, removing mites (including their eggs) and drying. The treatment process is done expertly and gently, so the feathers remain true to their natural form and exactly like they fell from the bird, but only much cleaner. Feathers are then recorded, graded, measured, photographed and stored in an ideal environment (inside sealed bags) - ready to be shipped when purchased from our online store. Note: We do not artificially enhance feathers or colour dye them. Every feather we sell is 100% in it's natural colour and state.
GRADING Every feather has some value and this is why we developed the FEATHEX Grade & Value Scale. We use it to grade each feather, based on a combination of the physical and visual properties. Therefore, there are set rules on whatmakes each feather a particular grade and as such the quality/grade of our feathers is always consistent.
We stock only naturally moulted feathers from the bird species below. All the feathers are washed and graded before they are added to our online store.
AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SPECIES
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, White-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Leadbeater's Cockatoo (aka Major Mitchell's Cockatoo), Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Rosellas (several varieties) , Red-capped Parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Port Lincoln Parrot, King Parrot, Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-breasted Sea Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Grey Falcon, Brown Falcon, Tawny Frogmouth, Laughing Kookaburra, Australian Raven, Grey Goshawk, White Goshawk, Brown Goshawk, Spotted Harrier, Black-breasted Buzzard, Nankeen Kestrel, Little Falcon, Little Eagle, Powerful Owl, Boobook Owl, Barn Owl, Sooty Owl, Grass Owl, Masked Owl & MORE.
