Are Indian Ringneck Parakeets Dusty?

With bright green feathers and a beautiful red beak, the Indian Ringneck Parakeets make for perfect companions! Although this delightful breed can charm anyone with its personality, dealing with these birds can be challenging at times – especially when they start polluting their surroundings.

Are Indian Ringneck Parakeets dusty? The answer is yes. Like all the other birds, Indian Ringneck Parakeets also produce dust and dander. These birds commonly produce wing dust, which is a white powder produced by the feathers closest to the skin of the bird.

Although Indian Ringneck Parakeets do produce an abundant amount of dust and dander, they are not as dusty as the other breeds such as Cockatiels and African Greys. Like the wing dust, there are other kinds of dust and dander that birds produce, depending on their breed.

If you’re a prospective bird owner, it will be good to know why this happens and what you can do to control it.

Why Your Indian Ringneck And Other Birds Produce Dust and Dander

As mentioned earlier, all birds produce dust and dander. This dust helps in keeping the bird’s feathers soft and silky.

Moreover, it also makes their feathers waterproof. Since the dust is in the form of a powder, the birds that produce dust more are called powder down birds.

On the other hand, dander is the consequence of preening and growth of new feathers.

As the feather grows, the keratin coating on it dries. Consequently, the dried coat breaks off and forms dander.

This happens more often during the molting period, i.e. when birds shed their old feathers and generate new ones. (We show you how often birds molt and what you can do to help here!)

Cockatoos, African Greys, and Amazons are some of the powder down birds, while Parakeets (budgies), Macaws, and Toucans are low dander birds.

How Much Dust do Indian Ringnecks Produce Compared to Other Pet Birds?

Like all birds, Indian Ringneck Parakeets produce some amount of wing dust and dander that is mildly noticeable.

The dander produced by these birds consists of dried skin, feathers, and keratin along with dust particles from the air.

However, they are known to be a lot less dusty than other bird species.

Cockatoos and African Greys, for instance, are referred to as the powder down birds that produce a huge amount of dust.

The dust produced by these birds is quite fine in texture – which could eventually lead to severe allergies. Generally, birds that come from the drier climates are known to be extremely dusty.

In fact, a prominent layer of dust can be seen on their feathers and around the cage.

On the other hand, the dust produced by Indian Ringneck Parakeets is a lot less in quantity and not as visible.

Therefore, Indian Ringneck Parakeets are okay for individuals with mild allergies – you just need to take appropriate care of their hygiene.

Problems Associated With Bird Dust and Dander

Not only are dander and dust a pain to clean up, but they also result in the production of airborne particles that can cause severe health problems, such as:

Bird Fancier’s Lung

This is a rare disease that affects a person when they inhale dust produced by dry feces.

Within a 6-hour period, the person starts experiencing symptoms such as chills, fever, dry cough, and chest pain.

If the symptoms are severe, then the person needs to be rushed to the ER immediately.

People suffering from this disease have to let go of their beloved bird, as it becomes nearly impossible to live in the same surroundings as the bird.

Allergy and Asthma Triggers

People who suffer from airborne allergies are usually extra sensitive to a variety of dust particles.

Even normal household irritants like dust and pet fur can trigger their allergies and cause mild asthma attacks.

Now imagine more particles added to the air in the form of bird dust.

Not only will it trigger their allergies, but they are also more likely to cause severe asthma attacks.

In some cases, when the allergic reactions and asthma attacks become severe, bird owners may have to make a hard choice of letting their feathered friend go.

Clogged Air Passages

The risks associated with bird dust and dander are not limited to humans only – they can harm the bird itself, too.

Birds are tiny creatures, thus it is understandable that their air passages are tiny as well, which is both a blessing and a curse for them.

Even though their respiratory system is incredibly efficient, when birds inhale air polluted with household irritants and their own dust, there is a high chance that their air passages get clogged.

This can lead to infections and diseases, some of which can also decrease their lifespan considerably.

5 Tips to Reduce Bird Dust and Dander

As bird dust and dander can cause severe health problems, some people are reluctant to keep birds while some have to make a choice between prioritizing their health or keeping a bird.

However, there are certain steps that can be taken to control bird dust and dander.

1. Using an Air Purifier

The most important way to avoid all health problems caused by bird dust and dander is taking the particles out of the air.

This can be done through an air purifier, which filters the air by removing the dust particles.

There are many different types of filters available, with the best one being the High-efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filtration.

This incredible filtration efficiently removes particles even as small as .3 microns with 99.97% success rate. This means that out of every 1000 particles, 9997 are removed.

Since it is an all-encompassing filter, it helps you get rid of the household dust and mites too, along with bird dust and dander.

These filters come in a variety of models, so you can choose between different floor models and even get them installed into your home air system.

2. Cleaning Regularly

A regular cleaning schedule is imperative, as it will help you get rid of the particles to a large extent.

The room will become more pleasant and bearable for those who are sensitive to dust and dander.

It is recommended that you clean the room where the bird is kept on alternate days to stop the dust and dander from accumulating.

If the bird is in a cage, clean the cage thoroughly at least twice a week, along with some quick cleaning everyday.

We give you 10 awesome birdcage cleaning tips here!

3. Make Cleaning Easier

Carefully choose the furnishings in the bird’s room as this can make your cleaning task much easier.

Do not go for carpets or curtains, as the particles get stuck in them, which makes cleaning a lot harder.

Choose surfaces that are easy to wipe, and use cleaning tools that are super-efficient and easy to handle.

Our personal favorites are

Swiffer WetJet Hardwood and Floor Spray Mop Cleaner (get it here),
iTvalina Spray Mop
and Swiffer 360 Dusters with heavy-duty refills (get it here)

You can check these out on Amazon by clicking the link next to the products.

4. Choose Your Bird Carefully

This is for prospective bird owners who don’t have any breed preferences.

Before getting a bird, do your research. If you do not want to clean every day and invest in an air purifier, then go for the bird that produces the least amount of dust and dander.

If you already have a bird or have fallen in love with a particular bird or breed, then this tip won’t be of help to you.

5. Keep a Limited Number of Birds

If you’re a bird lover, then this can be difficult for you. However, you must remember that the more the number of birds, the more dust and dander there will be.

Moreover, some birds are happier when they are with other birds, while some are not.

These unhappy birds get stressed out and start losing their feathers, which will contribute more to the problem.

Therefore, it is best if you keep a limited number of birds in your home.

Removing bird dust and dander will not only make you healthier but your bird as well.

Follow these tips to achieve a clean, pure and healthy atmosphere for your feathered friend and yourself!