Parrots allergic to parrots?

[DonnaBudgie]

I just read an Ask Lafeber inquiry about IRNs housed in a large cage with cockatiels (something if never try, regardless),

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Cont'd
LaFeber didn't recommend it either, but added that cockatiels are powder birds and IRN are not, and that IRNs can be allergic to 'tiel powder! If true, I would assume cockatoo powder too. I had never heard of this and I read a lot about h p

 

[foxgloveparrot]

This is true. Powder down birds have very fine dander compared to New World parrots, and it eventually settles into the respiratory system and stays there. Housing Old World parrots with New World parrots can gradually become dangerous.

https://www.reddit.com/r/parrots/comments/3ep0qg/how_my_african_grey_was_slowly_killing_my_macaw

 

[DonnaBudgie]

So is it a true allergy or a hypersensitivity reaction?