Birds and thoughts

[summer_jackel]

Yaknow, when people marvel at the beautiful plumage of birds and envy their ability to fly, somehow we never get around to longing for pinfeathers growing out of our *faces*. Seriously, Ow.

Also, Gavin has a big ol' spiky bloodfeather poking out of the middle of his wing that looks downright painful. Yep, moulting time at the Jackel-flock.

Gav is, however, leaving his feathers the heck alone and is starting to look really nice again. yay!

I'm about to head to the East Bay, visiting friends.

Comments

[archteryx.livejournal.com]

I've actually thought alot about feather issues, when I first set Arch up. Imagine preening 100,000 feathers, even with modern conveniences and tools to do so! They'd spend a fair bit more time taking care of them then most humans do their hair and bodies.

Though 'teri do have one advantage. They can actually sell their molted feathers; the downfeathers can be used in jackets and comforters (no geese on Reptilon!) and the wingfeathers, if intact and undamaged, can fetch some extra $ too.

As for blood feathers, well, there are always lotions for that if the nerve gets grumpy -- and teri have bare faces and necks, kinda like vultures. ;>

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

oh, man, sapient avians would spend *so much* time, with so many products available, for feather care! I think that a society of furred sapients would be set up with, for instance, more time allowances for grooming than our own, but boy, birds spend more time grooming even than cats do, so I'd imagine 'teri would be even moreso.

Hmm, in your example, an exceptionally well plumed individual or an odd color might make a decent sideline income once a year. ;)

[archteryx.livejournal.com]

It's true, someone with mint wingfeathers or odd *natural* colors might be able to sell the big feathers twice a year. But most of us just get a small bonus once a year on the bulk feathers we collect...sort of the Reptilonian equivalent of an income tax refund, or the oil fund dividends in Alaska.

As for grooming, well, it all depends on how badly you need the feathers perfect! Reptilon is a greenhouse world, so insulation isn't critical the vast majority of the time. If you fly alot, you HAVE to keep those feathers in tip-top shape with beak grooming, but those are only a few dozen of the 100,000. Most of the body feathers, we cheat and uses brushes, feather combs and vibrators to settle them out. :>