Ask the Swan Specialist
Date: 11 May 2010
Hi Robyn:
The website speaks mainly about psitticines, i.e., parakeets, cockatiels, etc. You might want to inquire if they can glean DNA from a swan's feather as these are in the waterfowl category.
You must pluck the feathers which means you will be getting some feather follicle possibly blood in the feather quill which is how the DNA is being conducted. Again, ask them which type of feathers would be more useful from a swan as there are many types of feathers such as flight, down, etc., as in all birds, but a swan's feathers are obviously much larger.
Lastly, is Mr. Conrad going to let you get close to hold him long enough to get plucked feathers without injuring you or him? This would be our major concern as the swan could injure you or himself in trying to evade the feather plucking. Also, removing a feather from a swan is not the easiest task. Even a broken blood feather (which is not something you really want to mess with unless there is a veterinarian nearby), may need a pair of pliers to get the whole feather and not leave any residual quill in the follicle. The Regal Swan
Messages In This Thread
- New Swan owners and we need help! -- Robyn Marie -- 28 April 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- The Regal Swan -- 28 April 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- Robyn Marie -- 11 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- The Regal Swan -- 11 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- Robyn Marie -- 11 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- The Regal Swan -- 12 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- Robyn Marie -- 12 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- The Regal Swan -- 12 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- Robyn Marie -- 12 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- The Regal Swan -- 12 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- Robyn Marie -- 11 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- The Regal Swan -- 11 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- Robyn Marie -- 11 May 2010
- Re: New Swan owners and we need help! -- The Regal Swan -- 28 April 2010
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