• Home
  • Chickens
    • Chicken Breeds
    • Hatching
    • Poultry Shows & Homesteading Faires
  • Nigerian Dwarf Goats
    • Our Goat Herd
      • Does
      • Bucks
      • Reference Goats
    • Goat Blog
    • 2021 Nigerian Dwarf Goats for Sale
      • Nigerian Dwarf Goat Sales Policy
  • Modern Homesteading
    • Aquaponics
    • Farm Animals
      • Ducks
      • Pigs
      • Quail
      • Turkeys
    • Flower Gardens
      • Our Gardens
      • Not Our Gardens
      • Bloom Day
      • Pacific NW Plants
    • Home Grown Food
      • How Our Garden Grows
    • Homestead Updates
      • 2014 Monthly Updates
      • 2016 Weekly Updates
  • This Life
    • Home Education
      • Field Trips
      • Geography
      • Literature & Books
      • Science
      • US History
      • World Studies
    • hobbies
      • Geocaching & Letterboxing
      • Handmade
        • Canvas
        • Cement
        • Kid Crafts
        • Paper
        • Sewing
        • Wood
      • Home Decor
      • Photo Fun
        • Ridgetop Digital Shop on Etsy
        • Photos
        • Weather & Sky Shots
      • Running
    • Wildlife
      • Birds
You are here: Home / Home Education / Science / Learning About Bird Feathers

March 3, 2012 by: RidgetopFarm&Garden

Learning About Bird Feathers

Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Home School | Animal Studies | Bird Feathers

Keeping with our bird unit, it was now time to learn about the wonders of feathers.

 

We read & discussed the feather page in our Encyclopedia Britannica book.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Home School | Animal Studies | Bird Feathers

 

This experiment came from The Rogers’ Family Circus and it’s fantastic. Fill one baggie with ice, another with feathers. First, place the baggie of ice on your hand & notice how cold it is. Now place the feathers on your skin & put the ice baggie on top. Notice that the ice doesn’t feel quite so cold anymore. This was a great way to really show my kids how important feathers are.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Home School | Animal Studies | Bird Feathers

 

This also came from The Rogers Family Circus. I gave each of my boys a feather & asked them to get their feather wet using a spray bottle. They noticed how yucky the feathers became.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Home School | Animal Studies | Bird Feathers

 

Next, we talked about preening. I explained that when a bird cleans itself, it is also adding a layer of protection to their feathers. They have a gland that secretes an oil-type fluid. They take this “oil” and spread it around their feathers. This “oil” waterproofs their feathers.

This time, the boys brushed olive oil (I think they may have applied a bit too much) on their new feathers. Now, when they sprayed their feather, the water beaded and ran off the feather. Another great hands on activity.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Home School | Animal Studies | Bird Feathers

 

Farm Kid1 added a couple feather books to the duck pages in his notebook. I believe the books are from Homeschool Share.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Home School | Animal Studies | Bird Feathers

 

What I loved most about these projects was how engaged my boys were. They already knew some things about feathers, which was fantastic because they were able to take part in our discussions. They also learned a few new things – like preening.

 

Related Posts

  • Our Bird Unit DisplayOur Bird Unit Display
  • Learning About Bird EggsLearning About Bird Eggs
  • Learning About Bird FeetLearning About Bird Feet
  • Learning About Bird BeaksLearning About Bird Beaks

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • YouTube

Search Ridgetop Farm & Garden

LATEST INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

ridgetop_farm_and_garden

Jennifer
Spring has sprung. 🌸 🌼🌷 . #ridgetopfarman Spring has sprung. 🌸 🌼🌷
.
#ridgetopfarmandgarden #springflowers #pacificnorthwest #beautifulafternoon
This red is amazing. ❤ . #ridgetopfarmandgarden This red is amazing. ❤
.
#ridgetopfarmandgarden #nofilter
The deer are enjoying crab apples today. ❤ . #ri The deer are enjoying crab apples today. ❤
.
#ridgetopfarmandgarden #ridgetopwild #blacktaildeer #fallinoregon #pnw #nature
Things are just ducky. 🦆 . #ridgetopfarmandgard Things are just ducky. 🦆
.
#ridgetopfarmandgarden
4 goat girl friends just chillin'. Clifford, Georg 4 goat girl friends just chillin'. Clifford, Georgia, Bunny, and the queen Willow.
.
#ridgetopfarmandgarden #ridgetopgoats #nigeriandwarfgoats #farmlife #goatsofinstagram #summer
This handsome fella is one of our spring kids that This handsome fella is one of our spring kids that we are planning to keep. Earlier this week I enjoyed a visit with 3 of our kids that moved to a new home. They looked great and seem to be settling in perfectly.
.
#ridgetopfarmandgarden #ridgetopgoats #nigeriandwarfgoats #farmlife
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Archives

Tags

31 Days 2016 update animal science Aquaponics Back Yard birds of 2013 Bird Village Black Copper Marans Bloom Day Blue Copper Marans Chickens Chicks Crafts DIY Ducks Easter Egger Eggs Europe Farm Flowers Food Garden Front Pond Front Yard genetically speaking Goats Greenhouse Handmade Hatch herbs Holidays Home School Incubator Kids Marans Nigerian Dwarf Goat Oregon Paint Race Recap Run Shade Garden Tilapia Travel Vegetables Wild Birds Wildlife

Ridgetop Digital Shop

Check out Ridgetop Digital Shop for party decor & photo booth props ⬇️

https://www.ridgetopfarmandgarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ridgetop-Digital-Shop-Nacho-Graduation-Party-Decor.mp4

Candling Eggs

Candling Eggs

Disclaimer

The data given at Ridgetop Farm and Garden is for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although it is based on our own knowledge and experiences, this information is our opinion only and should not be used as legal or medical advice.

Printable Goat Records

Printable Goat Records

Copyright

Unless otherwise noted, Ridgetop Farm and Garden is the legal copyright holder of all materials on this website. It may not be used, reprinted, modified or published without our written consent. However, if you enjoy something we post and would like to share it on your own social media site, please do so, but you must link to our original post.

Herb Barrels

Herb Barrels

Disclosure

Ridgetop Farm & Garden is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Many of our blog posts contain advertisements or affiliate links, which means we will make a small commission if you buy any products that have been linked to on this blog.
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact

© 2022 · Fun Genesis WordPress Theme by, Pretty Darn Cute Design